EU security and defence: Minister consults with her counterparts

On 13 January, Minister Lambrecht will participate digitally in the informal meeting of EU defence ministers. Key topics of the meeting: impact of the activities of non-state actors in the EU’s areas of operation, securing EU access to space and the strategic compass project.

First up on the agenda of this first ministerial under the French presidency of the Council of the EU will be an exchange between EU defence ministers and representatives of NATO and the United Nations.

They will discuss the impact of the activities of non-state and state-sponsored actors in the EU’s areas of operation. It is a topic of particular relevance for the EU given the presence of Russian mercenaries in Mali.

The strategic compass is a policy document that will be presented to the public this spring and which includes information on specific instruments to counter hybrid threats and disinformation.

Securing access to space

In a further session, defence ministers will discuss how the EU can secure its access to space. This topic also features in the strategic compass. Ministers will consult on an updated draft of this security policy document, which was first presented to the EU’s Political and Security Committee on 10 January. In this first informal meeting of 2022 the document will be discussed together with EU foreign ministers.

Initiated by Germany, finalised by France

The strategic compass is based on a German initiative. It was launched during the German presidency in the second half of 2020 and is set to be concluded under the French presidency. The strategic compass is to be finalised and endorsed by the heads of state and government of the 27 member states at the European Council meeting at the end of March 2022.