The defence minister meeting will begin on Wednesday 4 March at a working dinner where crisis management operations will be discussed. It will also be attended by the Secretary-General of NATO and the Under-Secretary-General responsible for UN peacekeeping operations. The ministers are to discuss, among other things, the priorities of crisis management operations. 

At the first working session on Thursday, they will discuss the development of defence cooperation and the priorities for cooperation with the new EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The strategic evaluation of permanent structured cooperation (PESCO) and the process of strategic evaluation and steering of EU security and defence cooperation, which means creating a so-called “strategic compass” for the EU, will be discussed at the second working session.

Inquiries about the agenda of the meeting: Special Adviser Reetta Palojoensuu, tel. +358 295 140062, and about communications matters: Terhi Haapaniemi, Special Adviser to Minister Kaikkonen, tel. +358 295 140018.