[PIO] Participation of the Minister of Defence in the Foreign Affairs Council of the EU Defence Ministers in Brussels

Defence Minister Vassilis Palmas participated in the informal meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council of Defence Ministers held in Brussels on 30 and 31 January 2024.

The Defence Ministers were briefed on the current situation in Ukraine and discussed the future commitments of the European Union (EU) and its Member States to the security of the country. They considered ways to support Ukraine in the immediate, medium and long term.

Subsequently, the Defence Ministers were briefed by the High Representative and Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton on the European Defence Industrial Strategy. They also discussed progress in the implementation of the Rapid Deployment Capacity (RDC) which is one of the main deliverables of the Compass Strategy and a necessary step to make the European Union an autonomous security provider.

In addition, the security situation in the Sahel region and the Red Sea was discussed, with the discussion focusing on the EU's efforts to maintain freedom of navigation in the region through a new naval mission.

Before the opening of the Council, the Minister of Defence had a meeting with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell. Mr. Palmas briefed on the security situation in the Republic of Cyprus, followed by an exchange of views on regional and international security issues.

(AF/NZ)
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
Source

[/P]