The 1978 fall sessions of the Eurogroup and the Defense Planning Committee discussed the Alliance's reaction to new nuclear capabilities of the Soviet Union and conventional build up of the Warsaw Pact. Even though the NATO states acknowledge that the Soviet Union will not be able to maintain its current efforts due to its economic problems, 1980s are seen as posing risks to the current peace.

This document describes the state of MBFR negotiations in May 1977, and concludes that the positions of the two sides have not moved closer to one another since the last meeting a year earlier.

This document describes the state of SALT negotiations between the USSR and the US and presents two alternative proposals by Vance.

This document describes the operational characteristics and strategic implications of cruise missiles, and their potential significance for SALT.

Reflections on the current state of transatlantic relations and Kissinger's foreign policy from Italian perspective. The meeting in Ottawa revealed that the US-Europe relationship is not one of harmony and concord, but that Kissinger sees himself as a peace builder in East-West relations, viewing them in strictly bilateral terms.

Italian perspective on the NATO Council of Ministers meeting in Brussels that discussed the credibility of Western European defense. The document highlights the need for a unified and cohesive negotiation strategy among the allies.

The note suggests that French motives for developing nuclear capabilities are political rather than based on national security considerations. France seeks to insure a key role in global political and military balance, and its behavior creates unfavorable conditions for the development of common European defense.