According to information from the German news agency, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, EU Council President Charles Michel and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg intend to sign a statement this Tuesday calling, among other things, for better cooperation in protecting critical infrastructure such as the energy and water supply.
The text also mentions, for example, how to deal with information manipulation and interference from abroad and the security policy consequences of climate change as areas for greater cooperation. Global warming is considered a risk to peace and security because it threatens the livelihoods of millions of people. More humanitarian catastrophes, flight and migration, as well as increasing conflicts over resources such as water and land, could be the result.
As security threats and challenges continue to evolve in terms of scope and scope, cooperation will be taken to the next level, according to the text of the statement, available from the German news agency. To this end, the cooperation will be expanded and deepened.
For the first time, potential threats from China are also addressed in a statement on EU-NATO cooperation. China’s growing confidence and policies pose challenges that need to be addressed, the text says.
However, Russia’s war against Ukraine is cited as the biggest threat to security. This is affecting stability worldwide and has led to an energy and food crisis affecting billions of people. Russia must immediately end this war and withdraw its troops from Ukraine.
The statement, which will be signed this morning at NATO headquarters in Brussels, builds on two previous joint statements from 2016 and 2018. It agreed, for example, to organize coordinated exercises and strengthen cybersecurity cooperation.
Work on the third EU-NATO joint statement started in 2021 and should have been completed in the same year. Coordination problems on both sides, however, repeatedly led to delays.
In principle, it is also questionable whether a substantial expansion of the collaboration will succeed. One of the reasons is that Turkey, as a NATO member, has so far avoided agreements that would allow a comprehensive and straightforward exchange of confidential information with the EU. Military cooperation, at least in some areas, remains very complicated or superficial.
Turkey justifies its blockade by not recognizing the Republic of Cyprus, which joined the EU in 2004, under international law. Turkish troops occupied the north of the island in 1974 when Greek putschists wanted to force Cyprus to join Greece. As a result, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus emerged in the north, which was recognized only by Turkey. The Government of the Republic of Cyprus governs the southern part.
(SDA)