EU Defence Ministers hold first in-person meeting today in Berlin since outbreak of pandemic
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- Date: 26.08.2020
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The support for EU partner countries in the field of defence and security, the issues related to further enhancement of cooperation with NATO and the UN, and the priorities of the EU's Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). These all were among the themes of today's meeting of European Union Ministers of Defence in Berlin. In attendance at the meeting were also NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix. The SVK MOD was represented by State Secretary of the SVK Ministry of Defence Marian Majer.
Speaking in the context of international crisis management engagements by SVK Armed Forces personnel, State Secretary Marian Majer said: “Slovakia has since long supported and appreciated the existence of all missions and operations in the field of training and consultancy, whereas it views the host nations’ gradual takeover of responsibility for their own security as an important part of them. Of course, as has been the case thus far, we stand ready to provide the required form of assistance as long as it is needed.”
The plans to contribute personnel to the EU Training Missions in Mali and in the Central African Republic and assign personnel to Operational HQ (OHQ) EUNAVFOR MED Op IRINI are now subject to the national approval process, with the goal of tabling both proposals to the SVK Government and, subsequently, to Parliament as early as September.
Another working session was dedicated to driving forward the implementation of the Strategic Compass – the common strategic direction for EU security and defence, which stands out as an area of priority in the field of CSDP under Germany's Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Also discussed were ways to improve and streamline the defence capabilities development through EU mechanisms and instruments.
The working programme of EU Defence Ministers concluded with a formal dinner, where the defence leaders looked at concrete ways to strengthen the EU's unity, solidary and resilience in the security and defence sphere, as well as exchanging views on the efforts of EU Member States to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking in the context of international crisis management engagements by SVK Armed Forces personnel, State Secretary Marian Majer said: “Slovakia has since long supported and appreciated the existence of all missions and operations in the field of training and consultancy, whereas it views the host nations’ gradual takeover of responsibility for their own security as an important part of them. Of course, as has been the case thus far, we stand ready to provide the required form of assistance as long as it is needed.”
The plans to contribute personnel to the EU Training Missions in Mali and in the Central African Republic and assign personnel to Operational HQ (OHQ) EUNAVFOR MED Op IRINI are now subject to the national approval process, with the goal of tabling both proposals to the SVK Government and, subsequently, to Parliament as early as September.
Another working session was dedicated to driving forward the implementation of the Strategic Compass – the common strategic direction for EU security and defence, which stands out as an area of priority in the field of CSDP under Germany's Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Also discussed were ways to improve and streamline the defence capabilities development through EU mechanisms and instruments.
The working programme of EU Defence Ministers concluded with a formal dinner, where the defence leaders looked at concrete ways to strengthen the EU's unity, solidary and resilience in the security and defence sphere, as well as exchanging views on the efforts of EU Member States to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.
