On Monday 20 January, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and European Commissioner for Defence Andrius Kubilius, who addressed the North Atlantic Council, called for closer cooperation between the Alliance and the EU.
According to Mr Rutte, “these exchanges are important for fostering transparency and political dialogue between NATO and the European Union”, noting that they enable EU leaders to hear directly from non-EU Allies.
Mr Kubilius said that he was counting on “much more intense cooperation with NATO”, with which the EU must “find pragmatic ways to increase information sharing”.
The ramping up of defence production was highlighted. Mr Rutte acknowledged that the transatlantic defence industry was “deeply intertwined” and that there was a unique opportunity to set the direction of cooperation. “We need to increase our overall defence readiness. A stronger European defence is key. A stronger EU defence industry will make NATO defence stronger”, added the Commissioner.
While it is up to NATO to make military plans and, together with the Allies, to assess military needs and set targets, “the European Union will support”. “We bring our added value by mobilising our budget and industrial and regulatory clout”, emphasised Mr Kubilius.
“We want the EU to help our Member States to enhance their defence readiness. This means helping members of the EU to fulfil NATO capability targets (...) in the next five years, by 2030”, promised the Commissioner. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)