EU Ministers of Defence convened in Brussels to discuss military aid to Ukraine and other current security issues

Ministry of Defence & Armed Forces of the Czech Republic

Author: editorial staff (ob), MoD Defence Policy and Strategy Division
16.11.2023

Brussels hosted a formal meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) composed of EU Ministers of Defence. The Council was preceded by an informal meeting with the NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and by a meeting of the European Defence Agency (EDA) Steering Committee. The Czech Republic was represented by the Minister of Defence Jana Černochová.

The kick-off meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg included a discussion on the damage caused in October to the gas pipeline and telecommunication cable between Finland and Estonia and the related protection of European critical infrastructure. Its resilience and hybrid threats countering are topics which are traditionally emphasized by the Czech Republic and are also vital in EU and NATO cooperation.

The Ministers of Defence then endorsed the revised EU Capability Development Plan and EDA budget which reacts among others to the deterioration of the security environment caused by Russian aggression. The Czech Republic uses EDA expertise in the modernisation of its armed forces and, according to Minister Černochová, shall continue doing so. The ministers also issued a joint statement in which they made an appeal for the European defence industry to have easier access to both public and private financing. The ministers called on financial institutions to provide loans and investments to European arms factories as the development of a robust defence industry is the prerequisite for our security and prosperity. Minister Černochová has long been advocating the societal benefits of the defence industry within the EU and the present ministers' statement is the result of a Czech initiative.

A more efficient support to Ukraine

The main topic of the ministerial meeting was military aid to war-torn Ukraine. The EU is to pledge specific aid including further support provided from the European Peace Facility (EPF). The EU also increasingly focuses on the need to develop the defence industry, both in the EU member states, and in Ukraine itself.

Minister Černochová expressed her appreciation to this approach, especially given the member countries' thinning stocks. The Czech Republic leads by example in strengthening relationships with the Ukrainian defence industry. "Many Czech stakeholders including universities and research centres already cooperate with their Ukrainian partners. Their aim is to meet the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine," said the Minister during the discussion.

Regarding the aid to Ukraine, the Minister also emphasized that the Czech Republic continues looking for other ways of supporting the country. "We have become members of the F-16 coalition and the Lithuanian demining initiative. We also intend to increase our engagement in the EUMAM mission in 2024," said the Minister and added that in the future, this training mission should also contribute to the transformation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The ministers also discussed other security challenges. In relation to the situation in the Middle East, the Minister emphasized the need to stop the conflict from spreading into the wider region. She also called for further discussions on the EU engagement in the Sahel. Minister Černochová also commented on the intent to establish the Rapid Deployment Capacity (RDC) to which the Czech Republic will adopt a responsible approach. The specific form of Czech engagement shall therefore be closely linked to the finishing of work on the new NATO Force Model.