SVK V4 Presidency Priorities: EU V4 Battle Group, Joint Airspace Protection, PESCO
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- Date: 01.07.2018
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The Slovak Republic today officially took over the Presidency of the Visegrad Group (SK PRES V4). During its year-long presidency, the main focus of the MOD in the field of defence and security will be on preparations for the stand-up of the European Union V4 Battle Group (EU V4 BG) and of the V4 Joint Logistics Support Group Headquarters (V4 JLSG HQ) in favour of NATO. To bring the V4 multilateral cooperation to a higher level, the agenda will be dominated by an exchange of experience on PESCO and an internal coordination of the national positions to be presented at NATO and the EU.
On continuity of V4 taskings, SVK Minister of Defence Peter Gajdoš: “Today the Visegrad Group is a powerful brand that reaches out well beyond its regional borders. The numerous follow-up actions on underlying issues has made the Group respected, amongst others, by NATO and EU structures. Despite several crises, V4 countries have seen dynamic development and stable progress that has been projected visibly into the V4ʼs input to the security of the Euro-Atlantic Area. This fact is captured in the motto of the official logo of the SVK V4 Presidency: “Dynamic Visegrad for Europe.” During our Slovak Presidency I believe we will build on the successes thus far and bring the projects that have been elaborated on to a successful end.”
In addition to ensuring continuity of preparations for the stand-up of the V4 EU BG, to be on stand-by in the second half of 2019, i.e. immediately after the end of SK PRES V4, the MOD has an ambition to go on deepening cooperation on defence planning, military capabilities building, education, training, exercises, military medicine, and joint airspace protection. The MOD is planning to initiate a discussion on a joint V4 PESCO project in a future phase of this initiative.
During SK PRES V4, V4 countries will focus on assistance and support to Ukraine and other important partner countries in Europe by passing on expertise for implementing the security sector reform, as well as reinforcing EU-NATO interactions in line with the EU-NATO Joint Declaration on Strengthening Strategic Cooperation and with current developments at both organizations.
On continuity of V4 taskings, SVK Minister of Defence Peter Gajdoš: “Today the Visegrad Group is a powerful brand that reaches out well beyond its regional borders. The numerous follow-up actions on underlying issues has made the Group respected, amongst others, by NATO and EU structures. Despite several crises, V4 countries have seen dynamic development and stable progress that has been projected visibly into the V4ʼs input to the security of the Euro-Atlantic Area. This fact is captured in the motto of the official logo of the SVK V4 Presidency: “Dynamic Visegrad for Europe.” During our Slovak Presidency I believe we will build on the successes thus far and bring the projects that have been elaborated on to a successful end.”
In addition to ensuring continuity of preparations for the stand-up of the V4 EU BG, to be on stand-by in the second half of 2019, i.e. immediately after the end of SK PRES V4, the MOD has an ambition to go on deepening cooperation on defence planning, military capabilities building, education, training, exercises, military medicine, and joint airspace protection. The MOD is planning to initiate a discussion on a joint V4 PESCO project in a future phase of this initiative.
During SK PRES V4, V4 countries will focus on assistance and support to Ukraine and other important partner countries in Europe by passing on expertise for implementing the security sector reform, as well as reinforcing EU-NATO interactions in line with the EU-NATO Joint Declaration on Strengthening Strategic Cooperation and with current developments at both organizations.
