Military of the European Union

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini believes that the EU has the strongest influence in the Western Balkans region.

"I am not worried about the influence or the presence of any of the other partners that countries in the region can have" Mogherini said, and added:

The defence and foreign ministers of Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece and Romania on Monday signed a joint notification of intent to join the EU Permanent Structured Cooperation, PESCO, which was set up to enable closer military cooperation and integration between EU member states.

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini believes that the EU has the strongest influence in the Western Balkans region.

"I am not worried about the influence or the presence of any of the other partners that countries in the region can have" Mogherini said, and added:

European Union countries on Monday officially launched a new era in defense cooperation with a program of joint military investment and project development aimed at helping the EU confront its security challenges.

Most of the European Union's member states have signed up to a plan for closer defence co-operation.

The UK and Republic of Ireland are among five states not participating.

The other 23 are now committed to the permanent structured military co-operation ("Pesco") plan to boost their defence budgets and joint capabilities.

The European Union has reacted to the engagement of convicted war criminal General Vladimir Lazarevic at the Belgrade Military Academy.

The Government adopted a decision on Bulgaria's accession to the joint notification to the Council of the European Union and the High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security Policy of the EU, which will initiate a procedure for the establishment of a Permanent Structured Cooperation (PSC) in the field of defense of the Union, reports actualno. 

Eight EU countries have signed a letter asking for "Russian propaganda to be countered, especially in the Western Balkans."

Tanjug reported this on Tuesday, citing the Croatian daily Jutarnji List, which in turn, quoted the Brussels-based website EUobserver - which said it had seen the letter, sent to EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini.

BELGRADE - Serbia's goal is to participate in the EU security structure even though it is not an EU member state, Serbian Armed Forces Chief of General Staff Gen Ljubisa Dikovic said Thursday at a meeting with Michail Kostarakos, chairman of the European Union Military Committee.

They discussed the political and security situation in the region and worldwide.

Romania is set to participate in a set of ten projects included in the European Union's newly-created Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) defence fund, which was set up to enable closer military cooperation and integration between EU member states.