Slovak Republic marks 15 years of its entry into European Union, we are an active member and a contributor to security
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- Date: 01.05.2019
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Today (1 May 2019), the Slovak Republic has marked the 15th anniversary of its entry into the European Union since it became an EU member country along with another 9 countries on 1 May 2004. Over this period, it has been actively involved in solving issues of common interest in the field of security and defence, performing international crisis management commitments, and in a number of new initiatives such as the EU’s Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) or the emerging European Defence Fund (EDF).
Minister of Defence Peter Gajdoš said: “Slovakia supports closer defence cooperation among EU Member States at all levels and directly contributes to the strengthening of it.” As he further pointed out, Slovakia’s contribution has been visible not only as part of PESCO where our country is participating in 8 projects and where it initiated and is now leading its own EuroArtillery project on indirect fire support, but also for a much longer time as part of the EU’s international crisis management.
“While on EU-led missions and operations, our service personnel have become a recognised element of international teams, whereas over 900 soldiers have rotated in and out of them abroad to date and 42 SVK personnel are currently deployed,” added the Minister of Defence. Under the EU’s leadership in 2017, SVK military policemen joined their historically first maritime deployment – Op EUNAVFOR MED Sophia. In the long term, SVK personnel have served with the EU Force Althea (EUFOR Althea) in Bosnia and Herzegovina and with the EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM) in Georgia. In the past, they also served with the EU Training Mission (EUTM) in Mali.
The Slovak Republic became a member of the European Union along with the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland and Slovenia in 2004. The EU Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) was founded in 1999 and Slovakia has been its active co-author since 2004. Ever since then, Slovak Ministers of Defence and other representatives of the SVK MOD have participated actively in joint meetings with their European colleagues to make Slovakia’s voice heard even over such a challenging theme as security and defence.
Minister of Defence Peter Gajdoš said: “Slovakia supports closer defence cooperation among EU Member States at all levels and directly contributes to the strengthening of it.” As he further pointed out, Slovakia’s contribution has been visible not only as part of PESCO where our country is participating in 8 projects and where it initiated and is now leading its own EuroArtillery project on indirect fire support, but also for a much longer time as part of the EU’s international crisis management.
“While on EU-led missions and operations, our service personnel have become a recognised element of international teams, whereas over 900 soldiers have rotated in and out of them abroad to date and 42 SVK personnel are currently deployed,” added the Minister of Defence. Under the EU’s leadership in 2017, SVK military policemen joined their historically first maritime deployment – Op EUNAVFOR MED Sophia. In the long term, SVK personnel have served with the EU Force Althea (EUFOR Althea) in Bosnia and Herzegovina and with the EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM) in Georgia. In the past, they also served with the EU Training Mission (EUTM) in Mali.
The Slovak Republic became a member of the European Union along with the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland and Slovenia in 2004. The EU Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) was founded in 1999 and Slovakia has been its active co-author since 2004. Ever since then, Slovak Ministers of Defence and other representatives of the SVK MOD have participated actively in joint meetings with their European colleagues to make Slovakia’s voice heard even over such a challenging theme as security and defence.
