(VOVworld) – NATO and the EU are partners, not rivals in defense. This was agreed by top officials on Thursday after a conference on EU-NATO cooperation in Brussels, Belgium and in the context of concerns over EU plan to seek a more independent role from NATO’s activities as the bloc faces a number of challenges such as the migrant crisis, economic recession, terrorism and extremism.  

NATO defence ministers meeting in Brussels on Oct 26, 2016. (Photo: AFP)

NATO’s Chief, Jens Stoltenberg, showed his support for strengthening European defense without duplicating efforts by NATO. The EU foreign affairs head, Federica Mogherini proposed the establishment of a headquarter in Brussels to command EU civil and military campaigns, especially in Africa and the Mediterranean Sea. She said that this model would not overlap with NATO’s tasks.