Kaljurand: NATO-EU cooperation must become more practical
According to Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs Marina Kaljurand, both the ongoing migration crisis and Russian aggression in Ukraine indicate that the EU and NATO must not only intensify cooperation but also shift it to a more practical level.
"NATO and EU membership are the mainstays of Estonia's security,” spokespeople for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs quoted Kaljurand as saying. “The challenges that have arisen in recent years, including Russia's aggression against Ukraine and the migration crisis, have shown that the two organizations can and must intensify cooperation.”
Kaljurand commended the joint statement issued NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and European Council President Donald Tusk which called to step up efforts to counter hybrid threats, improve strategic communication and conduct coordinated exercises.
"The joint statement is an important milestone on the road to more efficient cooperation between NATO and the EU,” explained the minister. “We certainly wish to make cooperation much more practical. A good example is the recent NATO-EU agreement on the sharing of cyber security-related information.”
Together with the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and the foreign ministers of Australia, Finland, Georgia, Jordan and Sweden, the foreign ministers of NATO’s member states discussed common security challenges at a working dinner held within the framework of the organization’s Warsaw summit on Friday.
The five non-member states represented at the dinner were identified at the 2014 Wales summit as NATO’s closest partners, cooperation with whom has substantially supported the alliance’s activities.
Editor: Editor: Aili Sarapik
Source: BNS