Russia and the European Union are set to establish a joint defense and security working group, the chief of the Russian Armed Forces General Staff, Gen. Nikolai Makarov, said on Friday.

"We held a detailed, frank dialogue, and shared opinions on European security and outlined the steps to be taken, including the establishment of a joint working group that would help to plan joint actions thoroughly," Makarov said after talks with the chairman of the EU Military Committee, Hakan Syren, who is on a visit to Russia.

The establishment of the working group would help transform joint Russian-EU efforts from mere theory into practice, Makarov said.

Syren was optimistic over bilateral military cooperation, saying it would bring "practical benefits" to both sides.

"An example of such cooperation [in defense and security spheres] is our peacekeeping missions in Chad, supplied by the Russian Armed Forces' helicopters as well as the joint patrolling of pirate-infested waters off the Somali coast," he said.

MOSCOW, September 3 (RIA Novosti)