On Wednesday (28 October 2026), NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte welcomed the European Commissioner for Defence and Space, Andrius Kubilius, to NATO Headquarters.
Commissioner Kubilius spoke with NATO Ambassadors in the North Atlantic Council, highlighting a range of priorities including enhancing readiness, boosting defence production, and ensuring consistent support to Ukraine.
One area in which cooperation is particularly crucial is military mobility. The ability to move military equipment and personnel into and across Europe is critical for NATO's deterrence and defence. This requires not only that regulatory issues are addressed, but also that appropriate infrastructure is in place to support potential movements. Commissioner Kubilius noted ongoing work in this area, and the Secretary General welcomed the good progress made between NATO and the EU to advance this, while noting that further work is required to ensure military readiness.
On support to Ukraine, Mr Rutte praised the EU's decision to enable the Ukraine Support Loan to fund support to Ukraine through NATO's Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List [PURL]. The programme continues to deliver essential military equipment to Ukraine, including air defence.
NATO and the European Union continue to enhance cooperation, building on their unique and complementary strengths in support of common interests. This cooperation is crucial as part of efforts to ensure a stronger Europe in a stronger NATO.
