Written joint statement of European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg
"The EU and NATO are unique and essential partners who share common values and strategic interests. We work side by side in crisis management operations, capability development and political consultations to support international peace and security.
Our cooperation is particularly important in the context of declining defence budgets in many of our Member States. We need to strengthen the potential of our strategic partnership to minimise unnecessary duplication and maximise cost-effectiveness.
We welcome efforts both by NATO Allies and EU members to enhance their defence capabilities and, in this respect, we support continuing close cooperation and complementarity between the two organisations. A stronger European Defence will contribute to a stronger NATO.
In this context, we look forward to the June European Council taking decisive steps in this regard."
STATEMENT/15/5206
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