ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines the intraregional level of multilateralism in the European area and explains the concept of interlocking institutionalism. It turns to inter-organizational competition and coordination by analytically reconstructing the institutional identity of each of the three regional organizations based on key official documents and treaties and by analyzing their scope of compatibility. The chapter illustrates the argument by looking at inter-organizational cooperation between North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), the European Union (EU), and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) during the Kosovo crisis. The framework of interlocking institutions was deliberately designed as a flexible arrangement to avoid duplication and ensure efficient use of available resources and complementary capabilities. NATO's capabilities and expertise in military deterrence, crisis management, and international cooperation primarily lies in its ability "to deploy and sustain robust military forces in the field" whereas civilian crisis management tools are rendered "modest" at best.
