BRUSSELS, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) -- European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, together with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, inaugurated a new European security center in Helsinki, Finland on Monday dedicated to countering hybrid threats.
The center is an initiative of the Finnish government, supported by 11 other nations, as well as NATO and the EU, NATO said in a press release.
"The center will make an important contribution to our security," the NATO chief said in his speech.
Stoltenberg also spoke of the importance of closer cooperation between NATO and the EU, saying "Our relationship has never been closer."
He said NATO and the EU were working together on the response to hybrid challenges, cyber defense, security in the Mediterranean Sea, and in other areas.
According to a statement of the EU's diplomatic service, the center will strengthen cooperation between the EU and NATO, deliver expert analysis, developing methodologies and conducting training to enhance capabilities to respond to hybrid threats.
Mogherini said the EU and NATO had been invited to join the center's steering board as observers. "The center will focus in particular on research, training, education and exercises," she added. Enditem
