Brussels, 27/06/2016 (Agence Europe) - The British referendum of 23 June has somewhat shaken up the agenda of the meeting of the European Council on Tuesday 28 June, which will consequently touch briefly upon a number of issues relating to policy and cooperation between the European Union and NATO.
The High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, will present the European leaders with the “global strategy” on foreign and security policy (see other article). “It will be a fairly short presentation, but the High Representative believes that it is important to do so”, according to a senior EU official. As the strategy was submitted to the member states on Sunday 26 June, it will not be possible to have a “very in-depth discussion”, another European source said.
The Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, is expected to notify the other heads of state or government of the next steps his government is planning to take following the referendum of 6 April on the association agreement with Ukraine. On 6 April of this year, 64% of the Dutch turnout voted against their country ratifying the association agreement between the EU and Ukraine (see EUROPE 11527).
The European Council is also expected to return to the situation in Libya and point out that the EU is still prepared to support the Libyan government of national unity. They may also welcome the extension of the EU naval operation in the central Mediterranean, EUNAVFOR Med Sophia (see EUROPE 11576).
The Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, is to attend this meeting of the European Council to discuss the issue of cooperation between the EU and NATO, ahead of the adoption of a joint statement at the summit of the Atlantic Alliance to be held in Warsaw on 8 and 9 July. This cooperation is to be deepened on the fight against hybrid threats, cyber-defence, support for reinforcing the capabilities of third countries and maritime security. Essentially, the EU and NATO are expected to exchange more intelligence, carry out joint exercises and look into the possibility of additional actions in the maritime domain, particularly in the central Mediterranean (for more details, see our bulletin Europe Diplomacy & Defence, EDD 872 and EDD 892). (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant and Jan Kordys)