Verklaring van Voorzitter Europese Raad van Rompuy met betrekking tot NAVO top in Chicago (en)

EUROPEAN COUNCIL THE PRESIDT

Chicago, 20 May 2012

Statement by

President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy i in view of the NATO summit in Chicago

I look forward to discussions with President Obama and other leaders at the Chicago NATO Summit. The Summit will provide an opportunity for the EU to demonstrate how we can contribute to global security in cooperation with NATO. I will deliver three key messages:

Firstly, the EU is well placed to address today's complex security challenges, thanks to our comprehensive approach, which ranges from trade and development to conflict prevention and crisis management

Over the past eight years, 24 civilian and military missions have been launched under the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy. We operate side-by-side with NATO in the Western Balkans, in Afghanistan and in combating piracy off the coast of Somalia. We remain committed to Afghan security and development beyond 2014

Secondly, the EU is committed to assuming a greater security role in our neighbourhood and beyond, while aware of the challenges that this entails. We are engaged in sustained efforts to enhance the EU's ability to act

European cooperation in the area of development of military capabilities has become urgent in the current financial situation and the fast-moving geo-strategic environment. The EU's initiative on Pooling and Sharing provides a common response to this challenge

In Chicago, I will be able to announce concrete progress by EU Member States in pooling and sharing their military capabilities, most notably air-to-air refuelling, which was a critical capability shortfall during the Libya operation. Key shortfalls persist, however, and we are only at the start of a process. It is of utmost importance that Pooling and Sharing continues in a more systematic way to achieve synergies and avoid costly duplication. The European Defence Agency will play a pivotal role in facilitating further results

Thirdly, the EU remains committed to further strengthening our Strategic Partnership with NATO. More frequent political dialogue, enhanced cooperation in crisis management and further synergies in the development of military capabilities are the areas where I see potential for most progress. Further cooperation between the EU and NATO will benefit the transatlantic relationship, which remains of fundamental importance to Europe