The EU-NATO Closer Cooperation Discussed During the EU Military Committee Away Days Meeting
Riga, 5 May, 2015. – The Chief of Defence of the Republic of Latvia Lieutenant General Raimonds Graube and General Patrick de Rousiers, the Chairman of the EU Military Committee during the meeting with media underlined that the EU-NATO closer cooperation, challenges posed by hybrid war, terrorism and illegal migration were discussed during the EU Military Committee Away Days Meeting that takes place in Riga.
“Latvian Presidency in the Council of the EU takes place during a very complicated, new security situation. The EU Military Committee meeting in Latvia is an opportunity to discuss the contemporary challenges from a military point of view in order to prepare political decisions that will be taken in May during the meeting of the EU Chiefs of defence and in June during the European Council,” stressed Lieutenant General Graube.
“We have many challenges in East, South-East and South, therefore it is important that the European defence is based in the mutual solidarity of EU states and readiness to respond to new challenges. Deployment of the Latvian soldiers in Central Africa, Mali and Gulf of Aden demonstrates this solidarity and prevents from further instability in these regions,” said General de Rousiers.
The Chairman of the EU Military Committee stressed that the crisis in Ukraine has deepened the EU-NATO cooperation, for example, in the terms of information exchange. “NATO paid more attention to visible assurance, particularly on the Eastern boarders of the Alliance. However, the EU provided civil assistance and expertise in Ukraine, which is a long-term contribution to the EU-Ukraine cooperation in the future,” General de Rousiers explained.
The EU military representatives also discussed about hybrid warfare not only in context of the Russian aggression in Ukraine, but also on how teroristic organizations, such as ISIL, use the elements of the hybrid warfare to achieve their goals.
General de Rousiers stressed that nowadays hybrid war is a reality and both Armed Forces and Governments must respond to it. The impact of the hybrid warfare is visible not only in Ukraine, but also in many European countries, where young people are leaving the countries to fight with insurgents, for example, in Iraq or Syria, or accede to terrorist groups. “These young people are easy to reach in social media, and during the hybrid warfare it is challenging to balance the freedom of press and free speech with threats posed by propaganda,” pointed out General de Rousiers.
“Hybrid war does not have clear beginning and ending, and its elements, used by Russia and other countries and interest groups, although there are not lethal weapons, are equally dangerous,” stressed Lieutenant General Graube.
As reported before, on May 4-5 in Riga, the away days meeting for the EU Military Committee took place to discuss increasing the effectiveness and visibility of the Common Security and Defence Policy, the development of military capabilities and facilitation of the competitiveness of the European defence industry.
Media contacts:
Anete Gnēze, Senior Desk Officer of the Media Relations Section
Military Public Affairs Department
Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia
Phone: 00 371 67335093; Cell: 00 371 26474087
E-mail: anete.gneze@mod.gov.lv
Website: www.mod.gov.lv