NICOSIA, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades hailed on Monday the signing of the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) which launched by the EU in Brussels, as an effective defence arrangement for EU countries.
"For the first time, a shield has been created which protects the Republic of Cyprus as a European border from any outside interventions," said Anastasiades.
Cyprus signed the PESCO pact after the cabinet approved a proposal for Cyprus' participation in it last week following Anastasiades' meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris.
France and Germany are leading the way in pushing to increase defence cooperation across the bloc.
The pact will allow member states to jointly develop defence capabilities, invest in joint projects and enhance the operational readiness and contribution of their armed forces.
Cyprus has said it was improving its military capability, more specifically a naval base on the south coast of the island and an airbase close to the north-western city of Paphos to be used for PESCO purposes.
The PESCO agreement was signed on Monday by the foreign and defence ministers of all EU countries except Britain, Denmark, Ireland, Portugal and Malta.
