Kotromanović attends Central Europe defence ministerial

The meeting, apart the host, Austrian Minister of Defence and Sport Norbert Darabos, was also attended by defence ministers of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia.

This meeting represents the first gathering of defence ministers in this format, and is designed as a two-day informal event aimed at better understanding of defence ministers of countries of Central Europe and as a contribution to a better understanding of the common interests of these countries in the field of defence.

The discussion on the meeting was the financial crisis and its consequences on the European Union, international operations and cross-border cooperation in the field of defence and protection from disasters and catastrophes. The ministers also discussed the instruments and mechanisms to mitigate the consequences of budget reductions.

In this sense, an initiative of Austria and Hungary as the Central European solution to the pooling and sharing of capabilities, which includes six Central European countries – Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia and Croatia was presented. The basic idea is that the initiative in the context of limited financial and defence budgets explore the possibility of pooling and sharing and contribute to maintaining, strengthening and further specialization of defence capabilities. In the frame of the Central European Initiative, the nations jointly identify areas where mutual cooperation can be operationalized.

Of the total 25 areas of cooperation offered, Croatia has expressed its willingness to participate in 21 areas, of which it is a co-leading nation in two areas, namely with the Czech Republic in the area of the Common Pilot Regional Training Capability, and with Austria in Special Operations Forces Training Course.

Central European Initiative is a response of countries of Central Europe on the impact of reduced defence budgets and their contribution to the development of common European defence capabilities and capacities to respond to the crisis.