EU Defence Ministers to discuss Mali, Horn of Africa

BRUSSELS, Feb 11 (KUNA) — An informal meeting of EU Defence Ministers will take place in Dublin on Tuesday and Wednesday, chaired by Irish Defence Minister Alan Shatter whose country holds the current EU Presidency.

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen and a senior UN peacekeeping official will attend the meeting. Discussions are expected to focus on Mali, the Horn of Africa and partnership with the UN, noted an EU Irish Presidency statement.

Ministers will be briefed by the Mission Commander of EU Training Mission Mali and will be invited to discuss the developing situation in Mali and the region, the deployment of the mission and the EU support to African-led International Support Mission in Mali.

Against the background of an evolving situation in Somalia and the wider region, Ministers will be briefed by the Commanders of anti-piracy Operation Atalanta and EU Training Mission Somalia, and have an exchange of views.

Ministers will also discuss a paper prepared by the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the European Defence Agency (EDA) on the EU Common Security Defence Policy in particular on strengthening defence capabilities.

Via: http://www.kuna.net.kw/

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