Brussels, Mar 21 (EFE), flexibility and pragmatism”.

“We share the same values ​​although maybe not the same priorities, that’s possible. So we will be humble, flexible and pragmatic, and consider the priorities of all our partners,” Borrell said at the opening of the first Schuman Security and Defense Forum in Brussels.

This forum, promoted by a Spanish politician, celebrated its first edition at the European Parliament headquarters with the presence of EU Ministers of Defense and with common portfolio holders and representatives of more than 50 partners from around the world, as well as think tanks and academics to discuss how we can tackle common challenges and threats together.

“State your hopes, your points of view, your concerns,” Borrell urged meeting attendees.

The head of community diplomacy made clear the EU’s “commitment” to create “beneficial associations at the bilateral and regional levels”, and assured that cooperation was “more important than ever” because “no country acting alone can rise to the challenge”. as a return to “power politics”, authoritarian regimes or a mix of conventional and hybrid threats.

Borrell presented the EU’s achievements in terms of integrating its defense policies one year after the entry into force of the “Strategic Compass”, the Union’s plan to gain autonomy and contribute to making it a global security provider in the coming years. , approved just a month after Russia’s “brutal” aggression against Ukraine, he recalls.

But he went further and listed a series of “new goals” for the community, including the need to strengthen the effectiveness of the EU’s civilian and military missions in support of its partners.

“Increase the effectiveness of what we do, take lessons” from operations in places like the Central African Republic or Mali, said Borrell, who acknowledged that “we have to adapt the way we work”, for example by systematizing the contribution of equipment necessary to the country’s strength. -countries it supports in addition to training their military -as has been done in Niger or Somalia-.

In this regard, he reminded that the EU is also preparing a mission to strengthen Moldova’s capacity against hybrid threats.

Borrell also alluded to the need to anticipate crises through deterrence, as the EU has done with the mission deployed to avoid further friction between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and highlighted the creation of the European Peace Support Fund, which in his words “has changed the rules of the game”.

Nurtured by contributions from Member States, it has made it possible to finance weapons for Ukraine to defend itself against a Russian invasion with 3,600 million euros.

Another goal Borrell mentioned was to promote dialogue with international partners on digital security, as “cyber attacks are becoming more and more common”, and he also pointed out the importance of carrying out more joint exercises, as already planned in the maritime domain this year. .

As an example, Borrell cited that the EU wants to turn Atalanta’s operation against piracy off the coast of Somalia into a broader mission to ensure the security of maritime routes, and alluded to the challenge of having a greater presence in Indian territory peacefully. .

Finally, he pointed out that the EU is looking to open up enhanced defense cooperation (PESCO) projects from Member States to other partners, as has already been done with Canada, Norway, the United States and, soon, the United Kingdom, in the countries concerned. for military mobility.

Collaboration with NATO is also important for the EU, which will also look to increase cooperation with countries such as Norway, Ukraine or Serbia, which are already partners of the European Defense Agency (EDA).