Foreign Ministers Agree New Areas Of NATO-EU Cooperation

Foreign Ministers agreed to step up NATO’s cooperation with the European Union on Tuesday . Joint work between the organizations will include three new areas: military mobility, information sharing in the fight against terrorism, and promoting women’s role in peace and security.

“We are taking cooperation between NATO and the EU to a new level,” said Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

Speaking at a joint press conference with EU High Representative/Vice President Federica Mogherini, Stoltenberg said that the EU and NATO agreed on additional cooperation measures and highlighted the three new areas where they have agreed to strengthen cooperation.

“Moving our forces and equipment quickly is vital for our security. This means we need procedures for rapid border crossing,” Stoltenberg said, adding, “As well as sufficient transport assets. And robust infrastructure meaning roads, railways, ports and airports. So it’s obvious that this is an area where we need strong and very detailed and concrete cooperation between NATO and EU when it comes to military mobility. And our aim is to make military mobility a new flagship for the NATO-EU cooperation.”

With regard to the fight against terrorism, Stoltenberg said NATO-EU decided to strengthen the exchange of information and to coordinate our counter-terrorism support for partner countries.

“And third – we will do more together to promote women’s role in peace and security,” Stoltenberg said. “In our own organizations, and in our military operations. It’s not just the right thing to do, but it’s also the smart thing to do.”