The European Commission will present a proposal for a defense industrial strategy in three weeks, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Saturday, and will also open a defense innovation office in Ukraine.
“Europe must strengthen its industrial base (…) I am a convinced transatlanticist and, at the same time, we must build a strong Europe, which goes hand in hand,” declared Ursula von der Leyen during a round table at the Palace of Munich. Security Conference.
The proposal aims to increase defense spending, “spend better” with joint purchases and agreements to provide forecasts for industry and better interoperability between European armed forces, the president said.
Creation of a position of Defense Commissioner
The goal is also to concentrate spending in Europe to maintain “good jobs” for the taxpayers who foot the bill, he added. Ursula von der Leyen also believes that Ukraine should be integrated into European defense programs, because Russia “outnumbers Ukraine” in soldiers.
Regarding financial aid, the United States would be interested in passing a bill, currently blocked in Congress, to provide more aid to Ukraine, as this measure symbolizes the resistance of democracies. “It’s not just about Russia’s war in Ukraine and Putin’s attempts to destabilize democracies, but also about all the other autocratic adversaries that we are watching very closely… that democracies are united, determined and resolute.
She also promised that if she were re-elected as head of the European Union (EU) executive, she would create a new post of Defense Commissioner. In February, the EU decided to provide Ukraine with new aid of €50 billion over the next four years, on top of the €88 billion already spent since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022. “The question is whether the democracies will prevail on a global scale,” said Ursula von der Leyen.
Source: BFM TV
