The direction of defense cooperation between the European Union and NATO was discussed at a joint meeting held in Brussels. Grynkewich said that any structure established with EU member states should not compete with NATO.
Speaking at the joint meeting of the European Parliament's Committee on Security and Defence and the NATO Parliamentary Assembly's Relations with NATO Delegation, Grynkewich described the global security environment as unstable and complex. He said this environment could become even more complex over the next few years and stated that NATO's intelligence-sharing and coordination mechanisms were being strengthened every day.
Grynkewich also said that the necessary responses to hybrid threats were being delivered.
Agreements worth more than 50 billion euros signed in Ankara
Grynkewich also assessed the Defense Industry Forum held as part of the NATO Summit in Ankara, saying that significant progress had been made there. He said hundreds of companies had signed numerous agreements worth more than 50 billion euros in total in areas including strategic airlift, surveillance and reconnaissance.
The meeting also addressed the "Made in NATO" initiative and the "Made in EU" initiative, which envisages giving priority to products originating in European Union countries in public procurement and support programs in certain strategic sectors. Grynkewich said these arrangements were important for American, Canadian, British, Norwegian and Turkish companies.
Grynkewich said this was one of the areas where cooperation between the EU and NATO needed to be improved, stressing that NATO's technological superiority over its rivals must be maintained.
Objection to strict rules for equipment preferences
Grynkewich argued that preferences regarding where military equipment is produced should not be governed by strict rules. He said:
Focusing on where equipment is produced rather than its performance on the battlefield only benefits our rivals. The ultimate goal should be for the EU and NATO to act in harmony when procuring the best equipment for personnel in uniform.
Emphasis on complementarity for a "European Defence Union"
Grynkewich said he had held talks with some European leaders about the idea of a "European Defence Union" and stated that the structure to be established should complement the value NATO brings to the fight.
Grynkewich said establishing two separate structures could increase costs and put pressure on limited resources, reiterating that a structure established with EU member states should not compete with NATO.
