Speaking at a meeting of European Union Defence Ministers
in Brussels, Sir called on the
EU to step up cooperation with NATO in order for the two
organisations to more effectively tackle shared security
challenges, including hybrid warfare and cyber.
Sir Michael also called for an improvement in Europe’s
performance in building national capabilities that can be
made available to the EU and NATO. This requires more
defence spending and better investment in key equipment.
Britain’s commitments in 2017 underline the leading role
in European Security the UK will continue to play. This
year, Britain is leading NATO’s Very High Readiness Joint
Task Force, a Brigade-size force which is ready and
willing to respond to any threat. This spring, the UK
will also deploy a battle group of around 800 personnel
to lead in Estonia NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence.
The Defence Secretary also confirmed Britain’s strong
role in EU missions and operations. HMS Echo is currently
helping to tackle people smugglers in the Mediterranean,
as part of the EU’s mission Operation Sophia. Royal Navy
deployments to the operation have helped destroy over 120
smuggling boasts, apprehending 20 suspected smugglers in
the process, and have helped to rescue 10,000 people from
the high seas.
Britain also has over 150 UK personnel committed to EU
missions and operations, including in Bosnia, Mail and
Somalia, demonstrating Britain’s global reach.
Defence Secretary Sir said:
We are leaving the EU but we will continue to cooperate
with our European partners on defence and security.
This includes playing our part in the mission in the
Mediterranean, rescuing migrants and tackling people
smuggling.
Today I have urged the EU to cooperate more closely
with NATO, to avoid unnecessary duplication and to work
together on new threats, including cyber.
Sir Michael called on the EU and NATO to redouble their
efforts on cooperation, noting that while good progress
has been made, more work needed to be done, particularly
on cyber, hybrid, maritime and coordinated exercises.
Today’s meeting also brought forward improvements to the
EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) missions
and operations, through the Military Planning and Conduct
Capability (MPCC), to help improve planning and conduct
of the training missions (known as non-executive
missions) and to enhance civilian and military working.
Important improvements to the agreement, suggested by the
UK, were agreed today, including limiting the authority
of the Director of the MPCC, and avoiding duplication
with NATO structures.
