WHITE 22 PA P E R Development of the EU crisis management capabilities The EU has to be prepared to react to crises independently, as well as in close cooperation with other international organisations. By conducting military operations and civilian missions, the EU contributes to conflict prevention and management, as well as provides assistance for increasing security capabilities of its partners. Lithuania, being part of EU operations, missions and the EU Battle Groups, not only contributes to common EU efforts, but also promotes interoperability between the LAF and the forces of other EU members which improves the preparedness to react to crises. Poland-led EU Battle Group in 2010 Netherlands-led EU Battle Group in 2011 UK-led EU Battle Group in 2013 Nordic EU Battle Group in 2015 UK-led EU Battle Group in 2016 Lithuania‘s contribution to the EU Battle Groups Cooperation with the Eastern Partnership countries With regard to security challenges in the neighbourhood, it is important for the EU to support security and defence sector reforms of Eastern partners which are aimed at building local capacities, strengthen transparent and democratically ruled institutions and involve these countries into EU crisis management operations. Lithuania advocates for European integration of Eastern Partners (especially Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova) and in this light, strongly supports implementation of existing, as well as, encourages to initiate new EU security and defence projects in the EU Eastern Neighbourhood. Strengthening of NATO and the EU cooperation As both NATO and EU face the same threats and challenges, their capacities to apply different, yet complementary measures is of mutual interest. Lithuania supports the cooperation of NATO and the EU in the areas of: response to hybrid threats, military operations, capabilities development, local capacity building, defence industry and research, maritime security, cyber security and other initiatives. 3.3. Multilateral defence cooperation Lithuania’s multilateral cooperation in the area of defence is implemented mostly in three regional cooperation formats: cooperation of the three Baltic countries, cooperation of Nordic and Baltic countries and participation in the activities of the Northern Group.