NATO and the European Union have formally sealed a co-operation pact that will allow the EU to deploy peacekeepers for the first time, officials said.
The accord was adopted in a joint declaration by NATO Secretary-General George Robertson and EU representative for foreign relations Javier Solana.
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NATO Secretary General George Robertson (L) and European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana (R) hold a joint news conference at the Alliance headquarters in Brussels.
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"The EU-NATO declaration today is a vital milestone in the history of the NATO-EU strategic partnership," Mr Robertson said. "What we've done today is to lay the foundation of a permanent framework from the European Union and NATO in support of peace and stability".
Mr Solana said the NATO enlargement summit in Prague last month and last week's EU summit in Copenhagen had "changed the landscape of Europe.
"At the same time, today we have finalised a very important agreement between the European Union and NATO that will allow one of the most important projects that the European Union has now."
The long-awaited pact was agreed on Friday by both NATO and EU leaders meeting in Copenhagen.
It had been agreed in principle in October but the EU's planned deployment of peacekeepers in Macedonia was postponed twice pending a deal with NATO member Turkey to share NATO resources, especially heavy-lift aircraft.
After Turkey gave the go-ahead on Friday, the EU said it was ready to send its troops into Macedonia "as soon as possible" and was also willing to deploy soldiers in Bosnia to replace NATO forces in both countries.
AFP