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Foreign Affairs Council (Defence), 12/11/2019, 12 November 2019
Main results
Security and Defence issues
The High Representative and defence ministers had a strategic discussion on security and defence issues. They reviewed the progress made and looked at the future priorities. The discussion was an opportunity to reflect on further ways for the EU to enhance its capacity to act as a security provider, its strategic autonomy and its ability to cooperate with partners.
The Council focused in particular on PESCO (Permanent Structured Cooperation) and adopted a decision launching thirteen new PESCO projects. Defence ministers also discussed the coherence between PESCO and the other EU defence initiatives, including the Coordinated Annual Review on Defence (CARD) and the European Defence Fund.
The cooperation and the partnership between the EU and NATO has never been so strong. We both fully agreed that a strong EU in the area of defence helps NATO to be stronger and a stronger NATO is also important for the security of Europe.
Federica Mogherini, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
Defence ministers had an exchange of views on EU-NATO cooperation with NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana. They discussed in particular political dialogue, parallel and coordinated exercises and military mobility. Defence ministers reaffirmed the strong transatlantic link and the continued commitment of both organisations to work together. Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana also briefed EU defence ministers on the state of play of preparations for the next NATO Leader's Meeting to take place on 3-4 December in London.
The Council discussed the current state of CSDP deployments, reflecting on achievements, challenges and areas for further improvement. The importance of ensuring adequate resources for the missions and operations to fulfil their mandate was stressed.
Defence ministers highlighted the EU's engagement in the Sahel and the relevance of the naval operations, in particular EUNVAFOR Operation Atalanta. They encouraged the ongoing work on the coordinated maritime presences.
The European Defence Agency's steering board met before the Council meeting. In the margins of the Steering Board, a signing ceremony took place to mark the transfer of the PESCO project chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) Surveillance as a Service (CBRN SaaS) into the Agency’s framework.
The cooperation and the partnership between the EU and NATO has never been so strong. We both fully agreed that a strong EU in the area of defence helps NATO to be stronger and a stronger NATO is also important for the security of Europe.
