The EU and NATO on Tuesday pledged to enhance their cooperation, as both organizations grapple with growing geopolitical threats.
The 27-member European bloc and 30-member military alliance already cooperate on issues such as counterterrorism and cyber threats. But Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as well as Sweden and Finland’s plans to join NATO, have deepened the impetus for closer links between the two groups.
“This is a key juncture for Euro-Atlantic security and stability, more than ever demonstrating the importance of the transatlantic bond, calling for closer EU-NATO cooperation,” the EU and NATO said in a joint declaration.
But bringing the EU and NATO closer is not an easy task: Turkey, a NATO ally, has a troubled relationship with some European capitals. And while many EU countries are part of NATO, the two organizations have vastly different internal dynamics, with Washington continuing to play a leading role within the military alliance.
In the joint declaration signed Tuesday, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel committed to doing more together.
“We will further strengthen our cooperation in existing areas, and expand and deepen our cooperation,” the EU and NATO said.
The two sides pointed specifically to “geostrategic competition, resilience issues, protection of critical infrastructures, emerging and disruptive technologies, space, the security implications of climate change, as well as foreign information manipulation and interference” as areas of future cooperation.
But the declaration comes after months of delays — and underscores that there are limits to cooperation.
“In signing this declaration we will take the NATO-EU partnership forward in close consultation and cooperation with all NATO Allies and EU Member States,” the sides noted.
But, they added, “we encourage the fullest possible involvement of the NATO Allies that are not members of the EU in its initiatives. We encourage the fullest possible involvement of the EU members that are not part of the Alliance in its initiatives.”