23.11.2023.
Opening of Conference “New Achievements of the European Union in Areas of Common Security and Defence Policy”
A conference titled “New achievements of the European Union in the areas of Common security and defence policy” has been opened today in Belgrade. The conference is organised by the Directorate for European Integration and Project Management of Defence Policy Sector of the Ministry of Defence together with the Ministry for European Integration, with the support of the European Commission for Neighbourhood Policy and Negotiations.
Addressing the present at the opening of the conference, Acting Assistant Minister for Defence Policy Predrag Bandić pointed out that at present we could confirm with certainty that the Serbian Armed Forces had become a reliable, credible and interoperable partner to armed forces of European countries.
- By carrying out a wide range of activities in support of the achievement of national interests, the Ministry of Defence enhances national security and defence capacities through the process of European integration - Assistant Minister Bandić pointed out adding that in previous decade the defence and security cooperation between our country and the EU has been characterised by continuous progress and significant results.
He announced that Serbia will be among 14 European countries that are going to open the International Helicopter Centre in Portugal, next Tuesday, which is a joint project of the European Defence Agency with Serbia playing an important part.
- In its Report on the progress of Serbia in 2023, the European Commission acknowledged more clearly our contribution with respect to the CSDP, which is something that we in the Ministry of Defence are very proud of. It was stated that Serbia had continued providing a considerable contribution to EU crisis management missions and operations in the framework of the Common security and defence policy, and that it had continued participating in the list of EU battle groups - Assistant Minister Bandić stressed.
-This year we are in the state of preparedness in the HELBROC battle group- he reminded and added that on the basis of successful results achieved in the previous decades Serbia believes that it is on the right track to discuss on strategic partnership in the field of security and defence and it desires to further enhance the cooperation with the EU in that field.
Minister for European Integration Tanja Miščević pointed out that Serbia, as a state candidate for EU membership, has to keep up with developments, practice, and legislation of the European Union in all areas, which certainly refers to the enhancement of the security and defence policy.
- Serbia shares the European values and it is ready to continue, in every way, and together with all member states, sharing the EU values because it considers them to be its own - Minister Miščević underlined, offering her gratitude to all those who have contributed to the organisation of the gathering, particularly highlighting the contribution of the Ministry of Defence and Serbian Armed Forces and their efforts to make the public better acquainted with this very important topic.
Addressing the present, Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Emanuele Giaufret pointed out that the EU welcomes such initiatives for security cooperation, stating that the issues pertaining to that area are “in the focus” and rather relevant.
- We are increasing our efforts to be ever stronger, and that is why we are intensifying the cooperation with partners in order to resolve common challenges. We have an intensive dialogue about defence and security policies with the countries of the Western Balkans as well, since those are our future member states. Serbia was the first country that received European Defence Attaché and we must not forget that - Ambassador Giaufret pointed out.
The goal of the two-day conference is to present the changes within the Common security and defence policy since the adoption of the Global Strategy for Foreign and Security Policy in 2016.
The focus of the conference is placed on the Serbia’s contribution in this area, as well as on exploring the possibilities for the enhancement of the cooperation under the auspices of the CSDP. The gathering is the opportunity for the representatives of the Ministry of Defence and Serbian Armed Forces to present in an all-encompassing way and with concrete quantitative and quantitative indicators the contribution of the Republic of Serbia to EU Common security and defence policy, that it has given trhough numerous aspects of engagement of the Ministry of Defence and Serbian Armed Forces in this area.
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