Minister Kotromanović attends meeting of EU defence ministers
Minister Ante Kotromanović is attending the informal meeting of EU defence ministers in Riga, Latvia (currently presiding the European Council) on 18-19 February 2015.
The meeting is a preparation for the European Council meeting on defence to take place in June 2015. The ministers also strategic communications and hybrid conflict in the context of the security challenges faced by the EU and possible action in response to these.
Minister Kotromanović in his address called on consistent implementation of the conclusions from the European Council meeting in December 2013, and emphasised the necessity of informing the public on the EU’s concrete defence-related efforts and of larger investments into defence.
Addressing the topic of hybrid warfare and the strategic communications, and pointing to the covergence of external and internal threats, Minister Kotromanović stressed the importance of building stronger institutional and defence capabilities of fragile countries as the best extremism fighting strategy.
The agenda of 19 February features the analysis of the current EU operations and missions and discussion of the Military Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) as well as the rapid response capabilities.