28 EU Defence ministers agree to move forward on European Defence

Author (Corporate)
Series Title
Series Details 27.09.16
Publication Date 27/09/2016
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The EU's High Representative Federica Mogherini chaired on the 27 September 2016 an informal meeting of EU Defence ministers in Bratislava, together with Peter Gajdoš, Minister of Defence of Slovakia.

They discussed proposals to strengthen EU common security and defence. 'All 28 agreed today to move forward' stressed Mogherini after the meeting.

EU ministers reached a general agreement to proceed in parallel on three main aspects in the next months. First on the implementation of the Global Strategy in the field of defence and security by using instruments already foreseen in the EU treaties.

Secondly the High Representative and the Ministers discussed with European Commissioner Elżbieta Bieńkowska the coordination with the European Commission on the European Defence Action Plan, especially in the field of industrial support related to Research and Technology.

Thirdly they discussed the strategic partnership with NATO through the implementation of the EU-NATO Joint Declaration signed in Warsaw in July 2016. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also joined part of the meeting with EU ministers to discuss the implementation of the EU-NATO Joint Declaration and EU missions and operations in the Mediterranean (Operation Sophia and EUBAM Libya).

During the meeting United Kingdom Defence Minister Michael Fallon reassured European partners that the UK would continue to play a proactive role in tackling security threats after leaving the EU.

Mr Fallon urged greater co-operation between the EU and NATO, building on the Warsaw summit which gave impetus to the NATO-EU partnership. He signed a Joint Declaration aimed at turning commitments into practical outcomes in areas such as maritime cooperation, cyber collaboration and stepping up efforts to counter hybrid attacks.

While separate Franco-German and Italian ideas for greater defence collaboration, regarded with concern by the UK, were informally discussed in the fringes of the meeting High Representative Mogherini stressed that all twenty eight countries had agreed to focus on 'concrete, operational, pragmatic steps that we can take within the existing treaties'.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, who attended part of the meeting, said he welcomed debate on strengthening European military cooperation. 'There is no contradiction between a strong European defence and a strong NATO', he said.

Source Link http://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/10669/28-eu-defence-ministers-agree-to-move-forward-on-european-defence_en
Related Links
ESO: Background information: EU Defence, Where Political Opportunity Meets Strategic Necessity http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-defence-where-political-opportunity-meets-strategic-necessity-why-the-eu-is-suddenly-marching-to-a-different-drumbeat-on-defence-germany-eu-military-command-should-be-based-in-brussels/
Deutsche Welle, 27.09.16: France, Germany push defense plan despite British resistance http://dw.com/p/2QfQJ
ESO: Background information: Does the New EU Global Strategy Deliver on Security and Defence? http://www.europeansources.info/record/does-the-new-eu-global-strategy-deliver-on-security-and-defence/
UK: GOV.UK: Ministry of Defence, 27.09.16: Defence Secretary calls on Europe to step up security efforts https://www.gov.uk/government/news/defence-secretary-calls-on-europe-to-step-up-security-efforts
EurActiv, 27.09.16: Defence minister: Britain ‘will oppose any idea of an EU army’ http://www.euractiv.com/section/security/news/defence-minister-britain-will-oppose-any-idea-of-an-eu-army/
Politico, 27.09.16: The almost-an-EU-army plan http://www.politico.eu/article/italy-proposes-joint-european-military-force-schengen-of-defense/
Reuters, 27.09.16: Britain's fear of European army muddles EU defense plan http://www.reuters.com/article/us-eu-defence-idUSKCN11X00G
NATO: News, 27.09.16: NATO Secretary General welcomes discussion on strengthening European defence http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_135421.htm
BBC News, 27.09.16: Michael Fallon: UK will oppose plans for EU army http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-37482942
EU: EEAS: Speech, 27.09.16: Remarks by the High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini upon arrival at the Informal EU Defence Ministers meeting http://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/10555/remarks-by-the-high-representativevice-president-federica-mogherini-upon-arrival-at-the-informal-eu-defence-ministers-meeting_en
EU: EEAS: Speech, 27.09.16: Remarks by the High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini at a joint doorstep with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the Informal EU Defence Ministers meeting http://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/10560/remarks-by-the-high-representativevice-president-federica-mogherini-at-a-joint-doorstep-with-nato-secretary-general-jens-stoltenberg-at-the-informal-eu-defence-ministers-meeting--_en
EU: EEAS: Speech, 27.09.16: Remarks by the High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini at the joint press conference with Peter Gajdoš, Minister of Defence of Slovakia at the Informal EU Defence Ministers meeting http://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/10639/remarks-by-the-high-representativevice-president-federica-mogherini-at-the-joint-press-conference-with-peter-gajdo-minister-of-defence-of-slovakia-at-the-informal-eu-defence-ministers-meeting_en
EUObserver, 28.09.16: No support for EU army in ministers' talks https://euobserver.com/foreign/135266
Politico, 04.10.16: UK defense secretary: We will continue to block EU army http://www.politico.eu/article/uk-defense-secretary-michael-fallon-we-will-continue-to-block-eu-army-nato/
Italy: For a stronger European defense. The Italian vision, September 2016 http://g8fip1kplyr33r3krz5b97d1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/italian-proposal-finalUE.pdf
EurActiv, 08.11.16: German defence minister wants EU military to match NATO http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/german-defence-minister-wants-eu-military-to-match-nato/

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