欧盟做出这个决定的时候，北约也在格鲁吉亚冲突导致双方中断了许多联合项目之后试图重新开始与俄罗斯的约定。 9月18日，北约秘书长谢佛尔在伦敦皇家联合军种研究所演讲。
The EU decision comes at a time when NATO has also sought to renew its engagement with Russia after the Georgia conflict led both parties to suspend many joint programs.