Inauguration of Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats

A new step toward cooperation and communication was made in Helsinki (Finland) on 2^nd of October, with the official inauguration of The European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats (Hybrid CoE).

The event gathered various members from both EU and NATO structures as well as member country delegations and other CoEs. The main speakers were High Representative of European Union Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, the President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister of the Republic of Finland Juha Sipila.

Whereas the main topics of discussions were: collective response to a changing threat environment and cooperation of NATO and EU structures in understanding and countering hybrid threats in the European region.

During the event both F. Mogherini and J. Stoltenberg expressed the necessity to understand the dynamic threat environment and, as stated Mogherini, this should be done not as individual countries, but collectively.

Additionally, four Directors of the NATO CoE's present in the region (Hybrid; Stratcom; CCD; ENSEC) met to discuss closer cooperation ties between their respective CoE's, seeking to enhance strategic efficiency of response towards contemporary difficulties. NATO ENSEC CoE was represented by Colonel Gintaras Bagdonas.