Minister Crosetto in Brussels for the Informal Defence Ministers’ Meeting

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Support for Ukraine and strategies aimed to guarantee security in areas of European interest: this was the focus of the Informal Meeting of the EU Ministers of Defence, attended by Defence Minister Guido Crosetto today in Brussels.

An opportunity to reiterate Italy’s commitment in support of the Ukrainian people and discuss security of navigation: “Italy – Minister Crosetto explained- is probably the country that provides the largest contribution to Mission Aspides. We have said that the mission’s three ships are not enough to patrol such a vast space, and that a greater number is needed. This is why we have asked Member Countries to assess providing more contributions. I understand this would be a great effort for all of us, but it is fundamental to reestablish maximum security conditions in a stretch of sea that, I know, is especially vital for some European countries but not for others”.

With regard to the appointment of an EU Commissioner for Defence, as announced by the President of the European Commission, the minister expressed his satisfaction, hoping that the Defence Sub-Commission will in its turn become a Commission of the EU Parliament.

“To build the future defence of every single European country and Europe as a whole, we must adapt, i.e. we must give back to Defence the room we have denied it over the last few years”.

In the sidelines of the meeting, Minister Crosetto met with UN Undersecretary General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix, with whom he discussed the situation in Lebanon and how to guarantee continued dialogue and prevent an escalation.

In Brussels the minister also met with EU Foreign Affairs and Security and Defence Policy High Representative Josep Borrell. During talks, they deepened themes related to the European Defence and Ukraine situation.

In the margins of the meeting the minister also held talks with Spanish colleague Margarita Robles, his Lithuanian and Estonian counterparts, Laurynas Kasciunas and Hanno Pevkur, as well as Hungarian Defence Minister Kristof Bobrovniczky and Czech Republic Deputy Defence Minister Daniel Blazkovez.

At the end of the meeting Minister Crosetto flew to Prague to attend the GLOBSEC, to take part in the “EU Defence: Building a Bold Future Panel” and hold a number of bilateral meetings.