1.            We, the Defence Ministers of Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and the Slovak Republic, joined by the Defence Secretaries from the United Kingdom and the United States, met in the “Bucharest Nine” format, with an aim to consult and cooperate on the current threats and challenges for the Eastern Flank of the Alliance.

2.            We expressed our deepest concern and condemn Russia’s unprovoked aggression against Ukraine. We agreed that this situation provides the gravest threat to the Euro-Atlantic security since the end of the Cold War, undermining stability and prosperity of the Euro-Atlantic area.

3.            In the face of this aggression, we reaffirmed our unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. We stressed to remain united on the need to maintain and enhance the political and practical support for Ukraine, and call all members of NATO, the EU and “like minded” partners to contribute to this crucial and urgent effort. This should include enhanced effort to support nations and backfill their donated capabilities, thus facilitating further deliveries to Ukraine.

4.            We agreed that increased Russian military aggressive posture on NATO’s Eastern flank, including in Belarus, coupled with Russian hostile activities in Southern flank have had a direct impact on Alliance’s security, and we reflected on measures to address this challenge. We expressed our full support for the Alliance’s decisions and actions taken so far, aimed at strengthening Alliance’s deterrence and defence posture in response to Russian presence and actions, including by establishing four additional battlegroups - in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia.

5.            We agreed that Allies at the upcoming NATO Defence Ministerial meeting and NATO Summit in Madrid should agree on further specific measures in the longer-term perspective. In this regard, we call for further strengthening of Alliance’s deterrence and defence posture, by the establishment of an effective Forward Defence, including adequate, credible, sustainable and tailored increase of Allied persistent military presence, taking into account national specificities and policies.

6.            We agree that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations remains a persistent threat to    us all and that enduring regional instability on the Alliance’s Southern flank requires continued efforts to ensure NATO’s readiness and responsiveness. Illegal migration remains a serious challenge that we must tackle together as well. The war in Ukraine has serious implications for global food security that could create new push factors in the MENA region and Africa and thus increase migration. Hence, we must maintain our policy of tackling the root causes and maintaining a resilient border protection mechanism.

7.            We highlighted that the new NATO Strategic Concept should direct comprehensive Allied effort to effectively face deteriorated security environment in and around the Euro-Atlantic area. Putting emphasis on collective defence as the primary task of NATO and stimulating further adaptation of deterrence and defence posture of the Alliance, it should embrace the full spectrum of agreed threats and challenges, in accordance with the 360-degree approach.

8.            We agreed that it requires bold decisions of all Allies to provide additional resources necessary to the relevant increase of Allies’, and thus NATO’s deterrence,  defence and readiness capabilities, including by the full implementation of NATO Defence Investment Pledge, seen as a baseline, as well as by the increase of NATO common funding.

9.            We agreed that the current security situation calls for complementary and effective EU-NATO cooperation, including in support of the Alliance deterrence and defence.

10.          We also noted the importance of using all available EU mechanisms to support Member States in their efforts to provide assistance to Ukraine. In this regard we highlighted the need to effectively employ the European Peace Facility for this support and making such resources available for Member States in a timely manner, based on EPF governance rules. It should allow for a quick replenishment of capabilities shortfalls of the EU Member States, especially on the Eastern flank of NATO and the EU. New EU funds and mechanisms aimed at facilitating Member States’ urgent defence investments should offer similar support for different defence procurement schemes, including joint procurements as well as unilateral national procurements.

EU Member States’ increased defence spending is one of the key responses to the growing threat to European security. Existing EU instruments should incentivise greater defence spending, including by more flexible application of the EU fiscal rules with regard to the national defence expenditures. We call the Commission to present an analysis on this issue, to be discussed by EU Member States’ competent representatives.

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