Council of the
European Union
Brussels, 21 October 2024
(OR. en)
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CIVCOM 247
COARM 200
POLMIL 344
DUAL USE 62
COPS 540
POLCOM 266
EUMC 484
ESPACE 86
COASI 149
INDEF 55
CFSP/PESC 1413 CONUN 195
CSDP/PSDC 707
COTER 186
POLMAR 37
CT 95
CYBER 279
ENFOPOL 400
HYBRID 126
JAI 1479
DISINFO 113
PROCIV 84
CSC 592
ATALANTA 46
CONOP 63
COVER NOTE
From:
European External Action Service (EEAS)
To:
Delegations
Subject:
European Union - Republic of Korea Security and Defence Partnership
(NBI Step 2)
DOCUMENT PARTIALLY ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC (04.11.2024 )
Delegations will find annexed the European Union – Republic of Korea Security and Defence
Partnership (NBI Step 2).
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EN
EEAS(2024) 1267
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EUROPEAN EXTERNAL ACTION SERVICE
PCM.2 – Peace, Security and Defence Partnerships
Working document of the European External Action Service
of 21/10/2024
EEAS Reference
EEAS(2024) 1267
Distribution marking Limited
To
PMG / CIVCOM / COASI
Title / Subject
EU – Republic of Korea Security and Defence Partnership –
Non-Binding Instrument (NBI) Step 2
Reference of
previous documents EEAS(2024)403
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EU – Republic of Korea Security and Defence Partnership
[Preface]
1. The European Union (EU) and the Republic of Korea (ROK) face an increasingly challenging
security environment. Europe and the Indo-Pacific are highly interconnected and
interdependent, in geo-political, economic, and security dimensions. Security is not limited to
traditional military and defence-related issues, but increasingly encompasses a broader range of
closely linked areas, ranging from the cyber and hybrid spheres to maritime and outer space.
2. The partnership between the EU and the ROK is based on shared universal values and interests
and driven by a strong recognition of the need to uphold the international rules-based order and
the rule of law based on international law and the respect for the United Nations (UN) Charter.
3. The EU-ROK Summit (Seoul, 22 May 2023) Joint Statement recognised the threats to global
peace and security, notably Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and the Democratic
People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) nuclear and missile programmes. The Summit called to
develop a security partnership and establish a Strategic Dialogue at Foreign Ministerial level to
enhance our cooperation on global peace and security. It highlighted the importance of
strengthening cooperation for Peace and Stability in areas such as disarmament, non-
proliferation, maritime security, counterterrorism and prevention of violent extremism,
cybersecurity, foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI).
4. The EU and the ROK have adopted important strategic documents that will guide their
respective foreign, security and defence policies for the years to come. The EU Strategy for
Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and the EU Strategic Compass for Security and Defence set out
a clear vision for a more robust EU role in security and defence, with strong tailored
partnerships at its core. The ROK published its Strategy for a Free, Peaceful and Prosperous
Indo-Pacific Region and its National Security Strategy. These overarching documents confirm
the strong strategic convergence and need for enhanced cooperation between the EU and the
ROK.
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5. In this context, both the EU and the ROK seek to seize the momentum to further intensify
cooperation to better meet shared challenges. The EU and the ROK will develop and strengthen
dialogue and cooperation across the whole range of security and defence topics, making use of
existing frameworks, notably the EU-ROK Framework Agreement, but also the Framework
Participation Agreement in EU crisis management operations.
General Framework
6. The EU and the ROK have decided to establish and implement a tailor-made, mutually beneficial
partnership that will frame bilateral cooperation across the security and defence spectrum. This
Security and Defence Partnership will be underpinned by a series of dialogue and consultation
mechanisms to provide steering and oversight:
a. Making use of the annual EU-ROK Strategic Dialogue at ministerial level (Foreign Minister
with High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President
of the European Commission) to ensure the oversight of the security and defence relationship
and provide guidance as appropriate. Security and defence-related issues will be a key
component of the agenda.
b. Upgrading the existing regular Security and Defence Consultations to an annual ROK-EU
Security and Defence Dialogue at ROK Director-General (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
Ministry of National Defence) / EU Managing Director level, to discuss the broad strategic
environment, thematic security and defence issues, to explore further cooperation and to
prepare outcomes for ministerial level meetings.
c. Building on and continuing existing thematic structured dialogues on specific domains of
shared interest, including assessments of the security landscape and threats in the Indo-Pacific
and launching annual Indo-Pacific consultations to coordinate respective approaches to the
Indo-Pacific. These will report to and inform the annual Security and Defence Dialogue.
7. The EU and the ROK will explore the possibility of concluding an EU - ROK Agreement on
the Security of Information, as well as the establishment of a secure communication
connection.
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8. The EU and the ROK will further develop their cooperation on security and defence,
including exploring opportunities for cooperation on capacity building and support to other
partners, using their respective programmes in security and defence, such as the EU-funded
Critical Maritime Routes Indian Ocean (CRIMARIO), and Enhancing Security In and With
Asia (ESIWA).
9. The EU and the ROK will promote multilateral dialogue and cooperation among the ROK,
the EU, and like-minded countries in relevant areas where considered mutually beneficial,
including possibly through joint exercises.
Areas of Cooperation
10. In addition to exchanging on respective developments in security and defence matters and
relevant regional security and geopolitical issues, the EU and the ROK will expand cooperation
in areas such as:
International peace and crisis management, including peacekeeping operations and CSDP
(Common Security and Defence Policy) missions and operations
11. The EU and the ROK will strengthen their cooperation in the field of security and defence
crisis management. The ROK will continue and expand its participation in the EU CSDP
civilian and military missions and operations, making full use of its Framework Participation
Agreement with the EU.
12. The EU and the ROK will exchange on respective contributions and support to UN
peacekeeping operations.
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Maritime Security, including operations, exercises and capacity-building for third countries
13. The EU and the ROK will deepen exchanges on maritime security, aiming at promoting an
open and rules-based maritime regional security architecture, including secure sea lines of
communication and freedoms of navigation and overflight, in accordance with international
law, in particular United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
14. The EU and the ROK will establish a regular maritime security dialogue (at Director / Head
of Division level) to deepen mutual understanding and enhance cooperation in areas such as:
a.
Operational cooperation, based on the Framework Participation Agreement in EU crisis
management operations and building on the successful cooperation between Operation
Atalanta and the ROK Navy off the Horn of Africa, further promoting concrete naval
cooperation.
b. Developing cooperation on maritime security through activities such as joint exercises
and port calls, including with the participation of mutually agreed third countries, on a
case by case basis.
c.
Exploring cooperation in the framework of the EU’s Coordinated Maritime Presences
(CMP) initiative, notably in the North West Indian Ocean.
d. Exploring possible cooperation on maritime capacity building of third states in the
Indian Ocean, Southeast Asia and the Pacific region, including in the framework of the
EU Critical Maritime Routes Indo-Pacific (CRIMARIO) and Enhancing Security In and
With Asia (ESIWA) projects.
Cyber issues
15. The EU and the ROK will deepen the existing EU-ROK Cyber Policy Consultation, including
by enhancing regular exchanges on the cyber security threat landscape, respective policy
frameworks and practical cooperation to coordinate diplomatic responses to malicious cyber
activities, as well as coordination of cyber capacity building efforts.
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16. The EU and the ROK will continue to coordinate and cooperate at multilateral, regional and
bilateral levels, notably on the promotion of the UN framework of responsible state behaviour
in cyberspace and the establishment of a UN Cyber Programme of Action to this end,
including on countering the DPRK’s illicit cyber activities that fund its unlawful WMD and
ballistic missile programs, as well as on the development and implementation of cyber
confidence building measures in the ASEAN Regional Forum, notably on the protection of
critical infrastructure.
Countering Hybrid threats
17. Through the annual EU-ROK Security and Defence Dialogue, the EU and the ROK will
discuss hybrid threats, encompassing issues related to cyber-security, FIMI, global aspects of
economic security and others as appropriate.
18. The EU and the ROK will deepen their cooperation on research and analyses on hybrid
threats, including by supporting close cooperation between academic institutions, think tanks,
as well as through centres of excellence on both sides.
19. The EU and the ROK will increase the sharing of best practices in developing strategies and
policies, including diplomatic responses to hybrid threats, and will increase cross-
participation in exercises as appropriate.
20. The EU and the ROK will coordinate possible diplomatic responses to hybrid threats.
Strategic Communications and countering Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference
(FIMI)
21. The EU and the ROK will keep developing ongoing bilateral exchanges on FIMI and expand
towards more structured, operational cooperation.
22. The EU and the ROK will proactively share information on threats assessments in the
disinformation domain.
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Approaches to resilience of critical infrastructure
23. The EU and the ROK will exchange on approaches and development of policies with respect
to strengthening the resilience of critical infrastructure.
Counterterrorism (CT), preventing/countering violent extremism (P/CVE)
24. The EU and the ROK will explore the potential for cooperation on CT related matters by
designing activities for greater interaction between CT-P/CVE entities, such as addressing the
online dimension of radicalisation and the dissemination of terrorist content online, the
misuse of new and emerging technologies for terrorism and countering terrorist financing, or
the community policing approach to countering violent extremism.
25. The EU and the ROK will promote coordination in multilateral and regional fora.
Non-Proliferation, Disarmament, conventional arms, including small arms and light weapons
(SALW)
26. The EU and the ROK will deepen consultations on arms control and disarmament, non-
proliferation of weapons of mass-destruction, and the international transfer of conventional
weapons, as well as in the area of responsible AI in the military domain.
27. The EU and the ROK will promote shared awareness on key issues related to disarmament
and non-proliferation.
28. The EU and the ROK will promote coordination in the framework of the Nuclear Non-
Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), the Biological and
Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC), the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT)
and other key multilateral instruments, as well as export control regimes.
29. The EU and the ROK will encourage enhanced dialogue among nuclear-weapon states
towards future possible nuclear arms control framework.
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Space security and defence
30. The EU and the ROK will explore cooperation in areas of space security with the aim to
ensure a safe, secure, and sustainable space, including by launching a dedicated Dialogue on
Space Security.
31. The EU and the ROK will promote coordination of external engagement in multilateral
(including at the United Nations) and bilateral fora, notably to jointly promote norms, rules
and principles of responsible behaviour in outer space.
Training and education in security and defence
32. The EU and the ROK will explore cooperation in the field of training and education related to
CSDP and crisis management, including developing cooperation with the European Security
and Defence College (ESDC).
EU and the ROK defence initiatives, including exchange of information on defence industrial
related matters
33. The EU and the ROK will discuss respective defence initiatives, including exchanging
information on defence industry-related matters.
Peace mediation and conflict prevention
34. The EU and the ROK and will explore cooperation on peace mediation and conflict
prevention, including cooperation in the field of CSDP, joint support to third states, sharing of
best practices, joint training, among others.
35. The EU and the ROK will enhance their coordination on shared priorities in peace and
conflict prevention in multilateral fora, notably in the UN context.
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External aspects of economic security
36. The EU and the ROK will explore ways to cooperate on the global aspects of their respective
economic security policies related to security and defence, with the aim to address the risks
that both face, while maintaining and improving a well-functioning international rules-based
system to continue to benefit from an open economy.
External aspects of human trafficking and transnational organised crime
37. The EU and the ROK will explore opportunities for cooperation in the external dimension of
human trafficking and in the fight against transnational organised crime.
Women, Peace and Security^
38. The EU and the ROK are committed to the full implementation of the Women, Peace and
Security (WPS) agenda, which consists of the United Nations Security Council Resolution
(UNSCR) 1325 and its follow-up resolutions, and will ensure that gender equality is
integrated in their areas of cooperation on security and defence.
39. The EU and ROK will exchange good practices on implementing WPS commitments, and
continue close collaboration to ensure gender equality as a political and security related
priority with an aim to reinforce joint responses to current and emerging security and
geopolitical shifts.
Way Forward
40. The areas identified in the Security and Defence Partnership will be reviewed regularly in the
framework of the upgraded ROK-EU Security and Defence Dialogue (ROK Director-General
(Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of National Defence)/EU Managing Director level),
which will take stock of progress made, give further impetus, and report to the annual ROK-
EU Strategic Dialogue meeting at ministerial level, as well as to the Summit, with a view to
exploring ways to further strengthen and develop the cooperation.
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41. The content of the Security and Defence Partnership will be reviewed as appropriate.
(End)
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