Common Security and Defence Policy

STRASBOURG - The EU and the W. Balkans will share a "common future" inside the Union, EU foreign policy and security chief Federica Mogherini said in Strasbourg after the European Commission adopted the bloc's new enlargement strategy.

It is a "clear path" for the W. Balkans "to finally join the EU" in "merit-based processes that are very well known," she said.

Bulgarian Chief of Defense Lieutenant General Andrey Botsev here on Thursday urged NATO and the European Union (EU) to strengthen their cooperation in the region of the Western Balkans.

The deepening of the cooperation between the EU and NATO was one of his country's priorities, Botsev said after meeting with visiting Chairman of the EU Military Committee General Mikhail Kostarakos.

Bulgaria's President, Rumen Radev, convened the Consultative Council for National Security (KSNS) on January 9th.

The topic was "The Role of Bulgaria for the Development of the Common Security and Defence Policy of the EU in the Context of the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2018 ".

Today, President Rumen Radev convenes the Consultative Council for National Security, BGNES reported.

The topic to be discussed by senior politicians and statesmen is "The Role of the Republic of Bulgaria for the Development of the Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) in the Context of the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2018".

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.

Bulgarian Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva will join today a meeting in Warsaw of the foreign ministers in the Bucharest B 9 format which includes NATO member states from Alliance's Eastern Flank: Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovaia, Hungary and the Czech Republic.

The EU and NATO are coordinating very strongly on different messages they are sending, including in the Western Balkans.

EU foreign policy and security chief Federica Mogherini said this in Brussels on Thursday, after after arriving at the NATO defense ministerial meeting.

BRUSSELS - The Western Balkans has the strength to overcome the current challenges if it is backed by a credible European integration process, EU foreign policy and security chief Federica Mogherini said Monday.

Mogherini made the statement before a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels.

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BELGRADE - A note on Serbia's accession to a technical agreement on establishing the EU's HELBROC Battlegroup was signed in Brussels on Tuesday.

The note was signed by the Serbian Armed Forces Chief of General Staff, General Ljubisa Dikovic, and his Greek counterpart, Admiral Evangelos Apostolakis, the Serbian Ministry of Defence said in a statement.

BELGRADE - A note on Serbia's accession to a technical agreement on establishing the EU's HELBROC Battlegroup was signed in Brussels on Tuesday.

The note was signed by the Serbian Armed Forces Chief of General Staff, General Ljubisa Dikovic, and his Greek counterpart, Admiral Evangelos Apostolakis, the Serbian Ministry of Defence said in a statement.