Today’s topics focused on the administration of civil-military crisis management operations and determining joint solutions with regard to the provision of assistance to the Lebanese armed forces.
To date, Estonia’s contribution to the Lebanese armed forces has included two military observers as part of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO). Estonia has also donated half a million Estonian kroons (31,955 EUR) to the UNHCR and 313,000 kroons (20,000 EUR) to the UN Mine Action Service to alleviate the humanitarian disaster in Lebanon.
The meeting of the European Defence Agency Steering Committee addressed the drafting of the European Defence Agency budget and the development of long-term defence-related plans.
Mr. Javier Solana, European Union Foreign Policy Co-ordinator, and Mr. Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, NATO Secretary General, also participated in the informal meeting of EU Defence Ministers.
From 4th–6th October 2006, Mr. Ligi, Estonian Minister of Defence, will travel from Finland to Portugal to participate in NATO-Ukraine high-level consultations.