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EU, NATO to strengthen partnership to minimize "unnecessary" duplication

Xinhua, June 17, 2015 Adjust font size:

The European Union (EU) and NATO agreed to strengthen the potential of strategic partnership, said European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in a joint statement Tuesday.

They said the EU and NATO are unique and essential partners, adding that, "Our cooperation is particularly important in the context of declining defence budgets in many of our Member States."

Two leaders decided to strengthen the potential of their strategic partnership "to minimise unnecessary duplication and maximise cost-effectiveness."

Regarding NATO countries' defence spending cutting, they said, "We welcome efforts both by NATO Allies and EU members to enhance their defence capabilities and, in this respect, we support continuing close cooperation and complementarity between the two organisations."

Juncker has called for the building of a European army in the face of threat in an interview in Germany last month. In its response, Stoltenberg said the EU should make sure what they do is complementary to NATO and avoid duplication. Endit