OpenLegislation

Explanatory note

Original text. Later amendments are not shown.

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order amends the Visiting Forces and International Headquarters (Application of Law) Order 1999 (S.I.1999/1736) (“1999 Order”).

It adds Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Ireland, Montenegro, Serbia and Tajikistan to the list of countries in Part II of Schedule 1 to the 1999 Order, with the effect that the 1999 Order applies to the visiting forces of those countries. Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Ireland, Montenegro, Serbia and Tajikistan are added as part of meeting the UK’s obligations under the NATO Partnership for Peace Status of Forces Agreement. Additionally, Ireland is added as part of meeting the UK’s obligations under the European Union Status of Forces Agreement (Official Journal of the European Union, 2003/C 321/02).

The Order also substitutes a new Schedule 2 to the 1999 Order, which lists the headquarters to which the 1999 Order applies. To reflect the changes to the NATO command structure, certain headquarters are removed from Schedule 2 to the 1999 Order, namely:

  • Headquarters Allied Forces North Western Europe (AFNORTHWEST);

  • Headquarters Allied Air Forces North Western Europe (AIRNORTHWEST);

  • Headquarters Allied Maritime Air Forces North West (MARAIRNORTHWEST);

  • Headquarters Submarine Forces North West (SUBNORTHWEST);

  • Headquarters Allied Forces Eastern Atlantic Area (EASTLANT);

  • Headquarters Maritime Air Forces Eastern Atlantic Area (MARAIREASTLANT); and

  • Headquarters Submarine Forces Eastern Atlantic Area (SUBEASTLANT).

  • Three headquarters remain in Schedule 2 to the 1999 Order, but are renamed:

  • Headquarters of the Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic (SACLANT) as Headquarters of the Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (HQ SACT);

  • Headquarters Allied Naval Forces North Western Europe (NAVNORTHWEST) as Maritime Component Command Headquarters Northwood (CC-MAR HQ NORTHWOOD); and

  • NATO Airborne Early Warning Force Headquarters and the NATO E-3A Component as NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Force (NAEW&CF).

  • Three headquarters remain unchanged:

  • The Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE);

  • Headquarters United Kingdom – Netherlands Amphibious Force (UKNLAF); and

  • Headquarters United Kingdom – Netherlands Landing Force (UKNLLF).

  • Four headquarters are new, having been set up since the 1999 Order:

  • Commander Submarines Allied Naval Forces North (COMSUBNORTH);

  • NATO Joint Electronic Warfare Core Staff (NATO JEWCS);

  • The European Air Group (EAG); and

  • The Intelligence Fusion Centre (IFC).

  • Headquarters Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (HQ ARRC) is due to relocate to the United Kingdom in 2010.