EU Defence and Foreign Ministers discuss the draft Strategic Compass for the first time
At a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council, the European Union's Defence and Foreign Ministers will review a draft core document of the Common Security and Defence Policy - the Strategic Compass.
On the second day of the meeting, the Defence Ministers will meet in the European Defence Agency (EDA) Steering Board session. Both working sessions will focus on topical issues and military training missions. With the NATO Secretary General, the ministers will discuss new forms of cooperation and a possible third joint declaration of both organisations.
The Strategic Compass means a safer Europe. I am extremely pleased that we have finally received the draft strategy paper, which provides a good basis for further negotiations in formulating guidelines for the development of European defence over the next decade. During the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU, we have strived to promote the discussion among EU member states at various levels as much as possible through various events with the aim of aligning positions.
Matej ToninMinister of Defence
Matej ToninMinister of Defence
The Strategic Compass will serve as the basis for setting out guidelines for the development of the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy over the next decade in the areas of crisis management, resilience, capability development and partnerships. Since this could affect further development of the Common Foreign and Security Policy, it is important that the draft document, prepared on the basis of member states' contributions in the form of food-for-thought papers, workshops and talks, be discussed jointly by Foreign and Defence Ministers.
On the second day, Defence Ministers will first meet in the EDA Steering Board session. This will be followed by working sessions where they will discuss topical issues, namely Coordinated Maritime Presences, military mobility, Permanent Structural Cooperation (PESCO) projects, and military training missions.
At a working lunch with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg i, they will discuss the two security-related core documents of the EU and NATO, the Strategic Compass and the NATO Strategic Concept, new areas of cooperation and the possible signing of a joint declaration on EU-NATO cooperation.