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Meeting in Brussels: Council President Charles Michel, NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg and EU Commission President von der Leyen sign a joint declaration
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JOHN THYS v AFP
The war in Ukraine is bringing NATO and the European Union closer together.
As a result of the Russian attack on the neighboring country, both organizations have now agreed to work even more closely.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg signed a joint declaration with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President Charles Michel at the military alliance's headquarters in Brussels on Tuesday.
Both sides want to take the partnership »to a new level«.
In the "growing geostrategic competition" with powers like Russia and China and in the "protection of critical infrastructures," both sides want to coordinate more closely, as the four-page text says.
The declaration also mentions how to deal with information manipulation and interference.
Closer cooperation is also needed in space and in the fight against climate change.
Global warming is considered a risk to peace and security because it threatens the livelihoods of millions of people.
Even more humanitarian catastrophes, flight and migration as well as increasing conflicts over resources such as water and land could be the result.
Appeal to Russia to end the war
The new 14-point cooperation agreement is now the third between NATO and the EU.
In it, NATO and the EU once again appeal to Russia to end the Ukraine war "immediately".
They also reaffirm their backing for Ukraine.
The war in Ukraine is cited as the greatest security risk.
For the first time, however, possible threats from China are also addressed in a statement on EU-NATO cooperation.
China's growing self-confidence and policies pose challenges that need to be addressed, the text said.
At the beginning of the year, the USA, France and Germany had promised Ukraine tanks of western design for the first time.
The federal government has promised Kyiv infantry fighting vehicles of the Marder type.
The Greens and FDP have called for the supply of Leopard-type battle tanks for the first time.
asc/AFP/dpa
