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Europos Parlamente įvyko Baltijos Asamblėjos ir Šiaurės Tarybos delegacijų susitikimas su Europos Parlamento nariais iš Baltijos ir Skandinavijos valstybių

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Briuselis, 2018 02 22.

Šiandien Europos Parlamente įvyko Baltijos Asamblėjos ir Šiaurės Tarybos delegacijų susitikimas su Europos Parlamento nariais iš Baltijos ir Skandinavijos valstybių. Dalyvavau jame, kalbėjau apie Europos bendradarbiavimą saugumo ir gynybos srityje. 
Mano kalbos tezes (anglų kalba) rasite čia:

Laima Andrikiene MEP on European Security and Defence Cooperation
Brussels, 
22 February 2018

Today’s security environment calls for a stronger and more responsive Europe. Europe had to admit that peace, freedom, security and justice are not to be taken for granted.

In the East, we have Russia’s military aggression and hybrid war against Ukraine and the illegal annexation of Crimea – a main security challenge for Europe.

In the South, the Mediterranean, we are facing a series of instability and threats running from Syria and Iraq in the Middle-East to Libya and other countries in the region.

The rise of extremism and terrorism, weapons trafficking and refugee smuggling, new hybrid threats such as cyberattacks and propaganda, find their ways deep into our societies and substantially challenge our internal security and the safety of our citizens.

Our capacity to ensure peace and stability on our continent and in our own neighbourhood and to prevent threats from inside and outside must be put at the heart of Europe’s action. Just as there are artificial barriers between internal and external policies that need to be overcome.

We have to take into account that after Brexit 80 per cent of NATO funding will be coming from non-EU Member States (US, Canada, Norway, Turkey, Iceland, UK...).

Europe has been underinvesting and duplicating investment without coordination in defence for many years, and EU member states must individually and collectively step up their efforts with efficient and purposeful investment. In the defence sector we can also do more with less, especially benefiting from closer cooperation at EU level.

For example, Europe is wasting 26.4 billion Euro per year due to duplication, overcapacity and barriers to defence procurement.

In general, EU countries are spending around 200 billion EUR on Security and Defence per year but by working together and reducing duplication we can save from 25 to100 billion EUR per year. This could be done by reducing types of military vehicles, aircrafts, ships.

Nevertheless, since the EU presented its Global Strategy a lot has been achieved in the field of security and defence. New instruments and tools for more defence cooperation among member states have been created and existing legal frameworks activated.

The European Defence Fund for instance provides an example of how increased cooperation will deliver concrete benefits. The Fund will coordinate, supplement and amplify national investments in defence. Through joint investment, member states will be able to develop defence technology and equipment that would otherwise not have be achievable. The Fund will also encourage innovation and allow economies of scale so that the EU defence industry can become more efficient and more competitive.

It is an opportunity to invest together, to innovate and create jobs, support the economy and to provide the most technologically advanced equipment to European soldiers.

The latest achievement was adopted by the Council on 11 December 2017, a decision to establish Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO), less than a month after receiving a joint notification by member states of their intention to participate.

Over the last two decades, the move towards cooperation has intensified and PESCO is the latest initiative to jointly develop European military capabilities. Also, for the first time, collaborative projects in defence technology, such as the development of marine surveillance drones, might be co-financed directly by the EU.

This permanent framework for defence cooperation will allow the 25 willing and able member states who signed up to develop jointly defence capabilities, invest in shared projects, and enhance the operational readiness and contribution of their armed forces.