EU Defence Ministers meet in Luxembourg to review progress made in implementation of EU Global Strategy
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- Date: 17.06.2019
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EU Defence Ministers and Foreign Affairs Ministers met today (17 June 2019) in Luxembourg to discuss current security and defence challenges. During the joint session of the Foreign Affairs Council, they reviewed the progress made in the implementation of the EU Global Strategy for Foreign and Security Policy (EUGS). A number of themes were discussed during the meeting, ranging from individual EU missions and operations to climatic change and its impact on the security stability of Europe and its immediate neighbourhood.
Defence Minister Peter Gajdoš said: “I am very pleased to say that at regular meetings with my counterparts from other EU Member States I can always acknowledge that the Slovak Republic is an active partner in the field of resolving joint security issues. This is evidenced by our involvement in several key initiatives, for example, consider our participation in individual EU missions and operations, PESCO projects, and the V4 EU Battlegroup, which is to be on standby in the second half of 2019 and the preparation process of which has coincided with the successful culmination of the Slovak V4 Presidency.” For participating countries, as he further said, the initiatives represent an opportunity for strengthening their capabilities and improving their multilateral cooperation.
During the meeting, Defence and Foreign Affairs Ministers agreed on the need to further the practical implementation of the EU Global Strategy, where Defence is the most impactful area. In fact, this process began in 2016 during the Slovak Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which was appreciated today by EU High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the Commission Federica Mogherini.
At the meeting, Ministers addressed EU-NATO cooperation, the hybrid and cyber threats faced by EU Member States, and the strengthening of Military Mobility. The discussions will continue at the next EU Defence Ministerial in Helsinki this August.
Defence Minister Peter Gajdoš said: “I am very pleased to say that at regular meetings with my counterparts from other EU Member States I can always acknowledge that the Slovak Republic is an active partner in the field of resolving joint security issues. This is evidenced by our involvement in several key initiatives, for example, consider our participation in individual EU missions and operations, PESCO projects, and the V4 EU Battlegroup, which is to be on standby in the second half of 2019 and the preparation process of which has coincided with the successful culmination of the Slovak V4 Presidency.” For participating countries, as he further said, the initiatives represent an opportunity for strengthening their capabilities and improving their multilateral cooperation.
During the meeting, Defence and Foreign Affairs Ministers agreed on the need to further the practical implementation of the EU Global Strategy, where Defence is the most impactful area. In fact, this process began in 2016 during the Slovak Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which was appreciated today by EU High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the Commission Federica Mogherini.
At the meeting, Ministers addressed EU-NATO cooperation, the hybrid and cyber threats faced by EU Member States, and the strengthening of Military Mobility. The discussions will continue at the next EU Defence Ministerial in Helsinki this August.
