On October 9–11 representatives of six Eastern Partnership countries , European Union institutions, and EU member states are discussing the achievements of the Eastern Partnership imitative in strengthening defence cooperation and involvement in the European Union Common Security and Defence Policy, also, sharing ideas and proposals on the initiatives that are worth continuing and developing and possible new ones.
The high-level seminar on “Security Dimension in the Eastern Partnership Policy: Current Achievements and Future Prospects” was opened by Minister of National Defence R.Karoblis and Minister of Foreign Affairs L.Linkevičius. The event is attended by representatives of six Eastern Partnership countries, Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine are represented by Vice Ministers of Defence. A separate “trio” session was held with three Eastern Partnership countries – Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine – that have the European Union Association Agreements and have made the most significant progress so far, to address specific aspects of implementation of concrete initiatives.
The seminar programme began with an evening session with representatives of the academic community and social organisations. The event is co-organised by the European External Action Service, Eastern Europe Studies Centre, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of National Defence.
The discussion which took place at the seminar will help assess the progress made on the implementation of the EU Global Strategy approved in 2016 and to set guidelines for further strategic direction after 2020. Minister of National Defence Raimundas Karoblis said in the opening address that he could clearly see the security and defence cooperation of the European Union and the Eastern Partnership countries as mutually advantageous and required — and underscored the need to maintain, deepen and develop it.
Vice Minister of National Defence Vytautas Umbrasas who spoke on the second panel of the seminar invited to continue keeping the dialogue, identified progress made because Eastern Partnership countries used the practical instruments, attended different EU Common Security and Defence Policy courses and training, EU military missions and operations, contributed to the efforts to manage cyber and information threats.
“We are ready to help our Eastern partners to strengthen their involvement in the EU Common Security and Defence Policy, achieve their ambitious goals and to retain Eastern Partnership high on our agenda priorities,” Vice Minister V. Umbrasas said.
On the margins of the seminar Vice Minister of National Defence V. Umbrasas also meets with his colleagues from Latvia, Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine. The bilateral meetings address relevant aspects of bilateral defence cooperation.
Eastern Partnership (EaP) is the eastern dimension of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) launched in 2009 at the Summit of Prague.
In late 2014 Lithuania initiated establishment of a Trust Fund to foster a more active involvement of EaP countries in the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). The Trust Fund was established by the Defence Ministries of Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, UK, and Slovakia, and is administered by the Ministry of National Defence of Lithuania. The Trust Fund finances participation of EaP countries’ representatives in EU operations, exercises and courses.
Photo credits: Alfredas Pliadis (MoD)
