Defence Minister Kotromanovic attended EU informal meeting of defense ministers

The meeting was chaired by Baroness Catherine Ashton, High Representative for the EU Foreign and Security Policy, and the main topics of the meeting was the EU comprehensive approach, the development of European military capabilities, long-term approach to Pooling and Sharing as a continuation of the Ghent process, and coordination with NATO in the area of ​​operations (Kosovo, Afghanistan, Horn of Africa) and the development of capabilities that will ensure coherence and complementarity and ensure avoidance of unnecessary duplications.

With regard to long-term development of Pooling and Sharing and continuation of Ghent initiative, discussion took place on a systematic and structured approach to the collective development of capabilities, issues of mutual trust and sovereignty, specialization and prioritization among the member states, and the inclusion of multinational cooperation in national strategic defense documents.

In this regard, special attention will be devoted to developing cooperation in the area of research and technology, and in development of concepts that promote Pooling and Sharing, so-called enablers such as: the concept of saving and reinvesting resources, where resources saved in the defense system should be used within the system for new investments in the defense, cascade model that would allow the collective use of surplus equipment and capabilities through donations, transfer or mutual exchange, the headquarters for the generation and sustainment of forces that foresees possibility for the certain number of members to connect their national headquarters in certain areas (logistics and maintenance, training and exercises), a joint procurement that provides great opportunities for cost savings (in transport, logistics support, education and training, ammunition, weapons, communications), and the harmonization of European military standards and procedures.