EU defence ministers discuss permanent structure cooperation

BRUSSELS, March 6 (KUNA) -- EU Defence Ministers began a meeting Tuesday with the discussion on the formation of the permanent structure cooperation, in short (PESCO).
"It is a historic moment. The ministers will take first formal decisions on the projects of PESCO and the member states participating in these projects," EU High Representative Federica Mogherini told reporters ahead of the meeting.
Last December, 25 EU member states expressed their intention to participate in PESCO in order to boost European defence cooperation.
Mogherini said today's meeting will also discuss EU missions and operations, particularly the training missions in Africa. Further, EU Defence ministers will discuss EU-NATO cooperation together with the Deputy Secretary General of NATO, Rose Gottemoeller. Mogherini noted that NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is travelling to Jordan today, but she talked to him on the phone all these days to "advance our good cooperation, all the projects we run together in view of the preparation of the NATO Summit this summer." (end) nk.mb