CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -The 13 countries participating in EI2 are Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Great Britain and Sweden. Representatives from all countries will be present in Oslo. Several of the countries’ defence ministers plan to attend.

Detailed explanation-2: -The European Intervention Initiative (EI2) is a joint military project between 13 European countries outside of existing structures, such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union’s (EU) defence arm.

Detailed explanation-3: -Ten European countries with the military capabilities and political will to play a role on the international stage have joined this initiative (Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom).

Detailed explanation-4: -The Treaty of Lisbon strengthens the solidarity between European Union (EU) Member States in dealing with external threats by introducing a mutual defence clause (Article 42(7) of the Treaty on European Union).