Estonia wants to assist the European Union in developing its defence policy during its presidency of the council of the EU that began on 1 July.
The Estonian minister of defence, Jüri Luik, said in a meeting with the EU’s High Representative for foreign affairs and security policy, Federica Mogherini, that Estonia wishes to assist in developing a defence policy for the EU that is “credible and covered by resources”, the Estonian defence ministry said in a statement.
Luik noted that it was crucial that regular and realistic training would be achieved to ensure the EU’s ability to act in crisis. “Estonia will demonstrate the possibility for this in September, with holding a table top exercise on cyber during the EU defence ministers’ informal meeting in Tallinn,” the statement added.
During Estonia’s presidency of the council of the EU, decisions are expected to be reached on how the EU member states will be able to better develop their defence capabilities and how the EU and NATO could enhance cooperation, according to the defence ministry.
“At the last council, the member states reached the decision that the financing of European Union Battle Groups must be shared, so that their deployment, when necessary, would be possible. This common funding model must be reached during Estonia’s presidency,” Luik added.
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Cover: Estonian naval vessel Wambola (the image is illustrative/courtesy of Estonian Defence Forces.)
