Greece blocks accord with Turkey

There was a setback to the European Union's plans for a rapid reaction force at the European Council in Laeken in December 2001. The EU had planned to give its rapid reaction force access to NATO's planning and assets, but in Laeken Greece blocked an accord previously agreed between Turkey and British and American diplomats. The Greek Foreign Minister said he could not accept what was agreed with Turkey and that it 'undermined the autonomy of the EU'.