EU Defence Ministers adopt third set of PESCO projects in Brussels
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- Date: 12.11.2019
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EU Defence Ministers met at the Foreign Affairs Council (Defence) in Brussels and adopted a decision to launch the third set of Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) projects. The adoption of the new 13 projects brings the total number of PESCO collaborative projects to 47. EU Defence Ministers had an opportunity to discuss the progress on security and defence, with emphasis on the latest PESCO developments and the coherence between the new EU defence initiatives (PESCO, CARD, EDF). Representing Slovakia at the meeting was State Secretary of the Slovak Ministry of Defence Róbert Ondrejcsák.
Another topic for discussion was the current state of play of EU missions and operations and the challenges and improvements in this field. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini highlighted the need to step up contributions to EU missions and operations, especially when it comes to the African continent. In his statement at the meeting, State Secretary Ondrejcsák said that the Slovak Republic is considering a contribution to the EU’s training missions in Africa, while, however, pointing to the importance of the Western Balkans. He confirmed Slovakia’s continuity of engagement in Op EUFOR Althea in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The newly appointed NATO Deputy Secretary General, Mr Mircea Geoană, took part in the working lunch where Ministers exchanged their views on EU-NATO cooperation. In their discussion with Mr Geoană, they appreciated the level of engagement in all the defined areas of cooperation, especially in Military Mobility and closer working contacts at different levels. The NATO Deputy Secretary General updated EU Defence Ministers on the preparations for the upcoming NATO Leaders Meeting in London to be held on 3-4 December 2019.
The European Defence Agency’s (EDA) ministerial Steering Board met on the margins of the formal EU Defence Ministers Meeting. At the EDA Steering Board, Ministers devoted their attention to the Coordinated Annual Review on Defence (CARD) and approved the Agency’s General Budget 2020 and the Three-Year Planning Framework 2020-2022.
Another topic for discussion was the current state of play of EU missions and operations and the challenges and improvements in this field. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini highlighted the need to step up contributions to EU missions and operations, especially when it comes to the African continent. In his statement at the meeting, State Secretary Ondrejcsák said that the Slovak Republic is considering a contribution to the EU’s training missions in Africa, while, however, pointing to the importance of the Western Balkans. He confirmed Slovakia’s continuity of engagement in Op EUFOR Althea in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The newly appointed NATO Deputy Secretary General, Mr Mircea Geoană, took part in the working lunch where Ministers exchanged their views on EU-NATO cooperation. In their discussion with Mr Geoană, they appreciated the level of engagement in all the defined areas of cooperation, especially in Military Mobility and closer working contacts at different levels. The NATO Deputy Secretary General updated EU Defence Ministers on the preparations for the upcoming NATO Leaders Meeting in London to be held on 3-4 December 2019.
The European Defence Agency’s (EDA) ministerial Steering Board met on the margins of the formal EU Defence Ministers Meeting. At the EDA Steering Board, Ministers devoted their attention to the Coordinated Annual Review on Defence (CARD) and approved the Agency’s General Budget 2020 and the Three-Year Planning Framework 2020-2022.
