NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed efforts for stronger European defence, arriving at a meeting of the European Council on Thursday (14 December 2017). “I welcome the initiative to strengthen European defence because I believe that it will be good for the European Union, for Europe and for NATO,” he said, while stressing the need for complementarity between NATO and EU efforts. Mr. Stoltenberg, who addressed EU leaders on NATO-EU cooperation, highlighted the importance of strengthening it further, noting progress already made in areas such as cyber defence and maritime operations.

Read the doorstep statement by the NATO Secretary General here.