France and Germany call for stronger EU-NATO ties

"Real co-operation" between the European Union and NATO, as well as a closer EU – US coordination on security issues and improved relations with Russia are needed in order for Europe to better face "current challenges," the leaders of France and Germany have said.

In order to respond to the "demands of the future," some areas – such as EU – NATO co-operation – are key, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel wrote in a joint column entitled "Security – our common mission" and posted on the website of French newspaper Le Monde on Tuesday evening (3 February).

"To our great regret, the ‘strategic partnership' between NATO and the EU is not living up to our expectations, due to disagreements which persist between certain nations," the leaders of the EU's two biggest nations wrote.

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