Deputy Secretary General: NATO-EU cooperation is “indispensable”

Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana stressed the importance of cooperation between NATO and the EU in his speech at the European Policy and Strategic Analysis System (ESPAS) meeting on Thursday (17 November 2022). He said the partnership between the two organizations was “essential” in the new and more dangerous security environment.
Geoană stressed that NATO’s “strength of standardization” and its focus on interoperability are two key strengths that will also benefit the EU defense industry. “It is in NATO’s interest that European allies have a stronger industrial base,” he said. With regard to the broader partnership between NATO and the EU, Geoanė stressed the need for cooperation between both organizations in all areas of common interest. “Together we bring not only experience, but also a critical mass,” he said.

The Deputy Executive Director was joined by Stefano Sannino, Executive Director of the European External Action Service, and Sam Fleming, Brussels Bureau Chief of the Financial Times, moderated the discussion.

The ESPAS Conference is held annually by the European Parliament and the European Commission and this year marks its 10th anniversary.