P. Gajdoš: Our participation in PESCO is an opportunity for us to strengthen our defence capabilities
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- Date: 13.11.2017
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Our participation in the European Union's Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) is an opportunity for us to strengthen our defence capabilities employable for national purposes or in delivery of our international commitments. At the same time, it means stepping up cooperation with the other Armed Forces from EU Member States, said SVK Minister of Defence Peter Gajdoš in a statement after signing a joint notification on the Permanent Structure Cooperation (PESCO) along with the State Secretary of the Foreign and European Affairs Ministry, Ivan Korčok, in a signing ceremony, thereby expressing the intention of the Slovak Republic. They had received the mandate to do so from the SVK Government last Wednesday. A total of 23 EU Members signed up for PESCO.
On PESCO, Minister Gajdoš said: “The SVK Armed Forces are currently faced with a number of significant modernisation projects, which will take a lot of effort. It is PESCO that creates room for using this effort more efficiently. For example, consider research & development (R&D) or joint procurement of military assets.” He added that PESCO offers opportunities for greater engagement of the SVK defence industry in international projects.
As its first PESCO project, Slovakia seeks to develop the so-called Indirect Fire Support project, which will be introduced to other partners still this week at an expert seminar in Brussels. “It has clear contours and that is why we strongly believe we will find considerable support from them,” said Head of the SVK MOD. According to his words, the project, if approved, could receive funding from the European Defence Fund (EDF), which would, to a great extent, lower its financial burden.
At today's meeting, EU Defence Ministers assessed the progress achieved in the implementation of the EU Global Strategy in the area of security and defence, which is considerable, especially when it comes to the defence and security measures encompassed in the Strategy. The meeting was preceded by a V4 ministerial session. "Together we are stronger, and hence our jointly coordinated positions carry greater weight, be it in the EU or NATO," emphasised the Minister. At the end of the working day, the Minister also attended a meeting of the European Defence Agency's (EDA) ministerial Steering Board.
On PESCO, Minister Gajdoš said: “The SVK Armed Forces are currently faced with a number of significant modernisation projects, which will take a lot of effort. It is PESCO that creates room for using this effort more efficiently. For example, consider research & development (R&D) or joint procurement of military assets.” He added that PESCO offers opportunities for greater engagement of the SVK defence industry in international projects.
As its first PESCO project, Slovakia seeks to develop the so-called Indirect Fire Support project, which will be introduced to other partners still this week at an expert seminar in Brussels. “It has clear contours and that is why we strongly believe we will find considerable support from them,” said Head of the SVK MOD. According to his words, the project, if approved, could receive funding from the European Defence Fund (EDF), which would, to a great extent, lower its financial burden.
At today's meeting, EU Defence Ministers assessed the progress achieved in the implementation of the EU Global Strategy in the area of security and defence, which is considerable, especially when it comes to the defence and security measures encompassed in the Strategy. The meeting was preceded by a V4 ministerial session. "Together we are stronger, and hence our jointly coordinated positions carry greater weight, be it in the EU or NATO," emphasised the Minister. At the end of the working day, the Minister also attended a meeting of the European Defence Agency's (EDA) ministerial Steering Board.
