Serbia boosts co-operation with European Defence Agency

Serbia boosts co-operation with European Defence Agency

Progress in the defence sector and faster EU integration are the main benefits of Serbia's co-operation with the EDA, experts and officials say.

EDA Chief Executive Claude-France Arnould visited Serbia in late November to set co-operation parameters. [EDA]

In an effort to boost the common defence and security politics of Europe, Serbia has taken steps to increase its involvement with the European Defence Agency (EDA). According to Major Jovan Krivokapic, spokesperson at the Serbian Ministry of Defence, co-operation will be improved in the fight against improvised explosive devices, precision-guided munitions, defending against cyber attacks and unmanned land platforms.

EDA Chief Executive Claude-France Arnould visited Serbia in late November to set the co-operation parameters. She met with Defence Minister Bratislav Gasic, and they agreed that active involvement in the concept of the Joint Security and Defence Policy is reflected by the aspiration toward increased engagement in crisis management operations, development of joint projects and improved administrative capabilities for more active co-operation with the EU.

"EDA's mission is to help its member states improve their defence capabilities through increased co-operation. As such, the agency stands ready to address the needs and priorities of Serbia through an à la carte approach that would allow the country to join projects that are in line with its defence and security priorities," an EDA official said in written statement for SETimes.

Serbia has been a member of the agency since December 2013, when an administrative agreement between the agency and the Serbian Ministry of Defence was signed....