Minister meets with Chairman of the EU Military Committee

Under the Slovak Presidency of the Council of the European Union, SVK Minister of Defence Peter Gajdoš met with the Chairman of the European Union Military Committee (CEUMC), General Mikhail Kostarakos, shortly before the EUMC Away Day meeting in Bratislava. The head of the MOD appreciated the presence of General Kostarakos at the Conference on the Follow-up to the EU's Global Strategy for Foreign and Security Policy (EUGS) – Defence Policy Aspects in Bratislava. The meeting allowed them to discuss the need to step up co-operation between NATO and the EU. This message had also been acknowledged by EU High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the defence ministerial in Bratislava.

During the meeting with Minister Gajdoš, the CEUMC commended the Slovak EU Presidency for providing an outstanding platform for discussions on security issues as part of the SK PRES scheduled events. He expressed his support for the joint international exercises that Slovakia organises on a regular basis. Also, the EU Military Representatives arrived in Bratislava to participate in the EUMC Away Day. During the EUMC Away Day on 3-5 October, conducted under the guidance of General Kostarakos, the EUMC Mil Reps addressed current defence and security issues in Europe. The EUMC Mil Reps were briefed by SVK Armed Forces personnel on the SVK military's selected defence capabilities and engagement in the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) operations. As part of the programme, the EUMC received a tour of the CBRN Training and Analytical Centre Zemianske Kostoľany.