Trio-Presidency Ministers discuss European Defence

The Ministers of Defence of Germany, Portugal and Slovenia, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, João Gomes Cravinho and Matej Tonin, discussed the current state of European defence efforts today via video link.

Their discussion included the following agenda items: PESCOPermanent Structured Cooperation, the European Peace Facility, the Strategic Compass, and the European Defence Fund.

Together they underlined:

"As a trio of consecutive EUEuropean Union Council Presidencies we stress the importance of making tangible progress in the field of European defence. Together we aim at fulfilling our ambitions at a high pace.”

“Our common goals are to increase our ability to act and to strengthen our resilience.”

“We emphasise the need for a strong European pillar within NATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization. Increased EUEuropean Union-NATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization cooperation complements and fosters the strategic priorities of the EUEuropean Union-NATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization Joint Declaration.”

Most recently, “the Trio” met in person at the informal EUEuropean Union Defence Ministers’ meeting on 26 August 2020 in Berlin. The next EUEuropean Union Defence Ministers’ meeting is scheduled for 20 November 2020 in Brussels. Portugal will assume the EUEuropean Union Council Presidency on 1 January 2021. Slovenia will follow on 1 July 2021.