Državni tajnik Zdravko Jakop sudjelovao je na videokonferenciji Vijeća za vanjske poslove Europske unije u formatu ministara obrane | Foto: MORH / F. Klen
State Secretary Jakop attends Council of the EU meeting
State Secretary for Defence Zdravko Jakop attended the video conference of the Council of the EU in the defence minister format.
On 20 November 2020 the Croatian State Secretary for Defence Zdravko Jakop took part in a video conference of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in the defence ministers, which was chaired by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell.
The participants discussed the Strategic Compass and the strategic review of the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO). High Representative Borrell briefed the ministers on the current situation – the situation in Libya, the naval operation IRINI, the situation in Mali, the development of the Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC) and the current situation regarding the European Peace Facility.
The ministers exchanged views on the development of the “Strategic Compass” document, which was officially presented at the meeting of the EU defence ministers in Zagreb in early March 2020. The goal of the Strategic Compass is to create policies and a coherent approach within four areas: crisis management, resilience, capability development and partnership.
The adoption of Strategic Compass is due in early 2022. The first phase of the development of the Strategic Compass saw the drafting of the Threat Analysis, as a function of the contribution by the member states. The Threat Analysis identifies the nature and severity of threats facing the EU over the short to medium term. State Secretary Jakop in his contribution welcomed the inclusiveness and comprehensive approach taken, which is indispensable for a strategic vision of development in the domains of security and defence.
Regarding the strategic review of PESCO, the ministers exchanged views and guidelines for the next phase of PESCO. Secretary of State Jakop pledged support for an ambitious approach for the next phase, calling on for realism and patience, given the potential mismatch of the available resources and ambitions.
State Secretary Jakop welcomed the acceptable solution regarding the participation of third states in PESCO projects, to enable co-operation with partners.
In addition to the Defence Ministers Meeting a meeting of the EDA Steering Committee was held, adopting the Agency Budget for the year 2021, a Three-Year Planning Framework 2021 -2023, and the Coordinated Annual Review on Defence(CARD).
State Secretary Jakop underlined the necessity of enhanced cooperation within the European Defence Agency and enhancement and connecting the national plans and development programmes with the EU programmes and defence initiatives.
