Press statement

Good afternoon.

President Donald Tusk, President Jean-Claude Juncker and I have just signed a declaration to give a new substance and new impetus to the partnership between NATO and the EU. And this historic decision will enable us to work even closer together and closer than ever before. 

Our security is interconnected. And we face a range of unprecedented challenges. Separately, neither NATO nor the EU can fully address them. But together, we are a formidable team. With the tools necessary to protect our citizens. And to project stability in our neighbourhood. By working together, we make the most efficient use of our resources. Unity and cooperation between NATO and the European Union remains as important as ever.

In these times of uncertainty our partnership is increasingly essential.  We have a united stance on Russia. The EU has delivered sanctions. NATO has delivered the greatest increase in our collective defence since the Cold War.

Together we are also tackling human trafficking in the Aegean. And we have seen results. The number of crossings has decreased from thousands a day to close to zero. From the start of this year NATO and the EU have reached two formal arrangements. On Aegean cooperation and  on cyber defences.

So we have actually concluded more formal arrangements in the past six months than in the previous thirteen years. And that says something about the progress we are making in the cooperation between NATO and the EU.

Now is the time to take our cooperation to a new, even higher level. Today we decided that we will do this based on consultations within each organisation with our member states. We will boost our common ability to counter hybrid threats. Including through timely information-sharing. Through cooperation on civil preparedness, cyber defence, and strategic  communications.

We have developed Playbooks to address hybrid threats. Identifying who does what if our nations come under hybrid attack.  And today I have shared with the President of the European Commission NATO’s baseline requirements for national resilience.

On issues such as energy security, food and water supplies and continuity of government.

So we can better coordinate.

We will also expand our cooperation in the Mediterranean Sea. Where information sharing and coordination can make us more effective in tackling illegal migration, terrorism and other challenges.

We will work more closely together on cyber security and defence. We will do more to help our partners build up their own defence capabilities. And we will train and practice our cooperation through linked exercises.

NATO and the EU have both made enduring contributions to the peace and stability we have enjoyed in Europe over decades.We are unique and essential partners.

Together we can be more effective in protecting our citizens. And upholding our common values. 

So – Donald and Jean-Claude – I am pleased and proud that we are moving forward and closer together and that we are enhancing the cooperation between NATO and the EU.

I look forward to working with Federica on implementing what we have decided.

And I look forward to welcoming all of you at the NATO Summit here in Warsaw later on today.

So once again, thank you both to Donald and to Jean-Claude. Thank you.