EU leaders discussed efforts to strengthen the EU's ability to counter security threats, AFP reports.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg joined the video summit to discuss cooperation, despite fears by some member states that EU pressure could undermine the US-backed alliance at a time when new President Joe Biden is trying to rebuild it.
According to European Council President Charles Michel, Biden's administration offers a unique opportunity to renew a strong alliance between Europe and the United States.
For decades, debates have raged about what role Brussels should play in defense, with individual countries often reluctant to take steps to integrate military capabilities.
France is in favor of strategic autonomy - arguing that the coronavirus pandemic, the resurgence of Russia, and the threats of former US leader Donald Trump show that Europe must be able to defend itself on its own.
