By Necva Tastan Sevinc
ISTANBUL (AA) - Leaders of European Union member states emphasized Thursday the need to enhance the bloc’s civilian and military preparedness and resilience against crises in the changing global order.
A joint statement adopted at the EU Leaders' Summit in Brussels addressed the bloc's global position, resilience, crisis preparedness and response, migration and other key issues.
Highlighting the increasing geopolitical tensions and climate-related natural disasters, the leaders underscored the importance of a coordinated civil-military approach to crisis management.
They also called for closer cooperation with NATO where appropriate and urged the European Commission and member states to expedite work on a comprehensive preparedness strategy aligned with EU priorities and national security interests.
"This new preparedness mindset is necessary to reinforce the EU’s resilience, protect its values, safeguard its economic success and competitiveness, and adapt to climate change," the statement said.
- Migration and enlargement
Regarding migration, the leaders welcomed the European Commission's plan to propose new legislation on returns by early 2025 and called for urgent efforts to strengthen border security, combat human smuggling and accelerate the return of irregular migrants.
Reaffirming their commitment to integrating new members, the leaders described the enlargement process as a "geostrategic investment" in peace, security and prosperity.
They stressed that both the EU and candidate countries must fulfill their obligations under a merit-based approach, adding that "both the Union and aspiring members have a responsibility to make the most of this opportunity."
- Hybrid Threats
The leaders also strongly condemned Russia's hybrid activities, including cyberattacks, sabotage of critical infrastructure and attempts to interfere in democratic processes.
Welcoming the adoption of the first sanctions targeting individuals and entities involved in destabilizing actions against the EU, they pledged to "strengthen resilience and take additional measures" to deter such activities.