EU Official Advocates for Strengthened Defense Sector Featuring In-house Produced Military Equipment – Sky Bulletin

In a significant move, a prominent European Union figure has made a strong appeal on Wednesday for Europe to revamp its defense industry strategy in light of the security issues highlighted by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The proposed plan places special emphasis on the acquisition of European-made arms and ammunition.

The onslaught by Russia in Ukraine has brought to the forefront critical deficiencies in the defense production capabilities across European nations. The hesitation of the arms industry to ramp up the workforce and facilities without guaranteed orders has led to a sluggish increase in production, with the stark shortage of artillery ammunition needed by Ukraine being a prime example.

The possibility of Donald Trump returning to the Oval Office and the potential repercussions this may have on support for Ukraine has also led to increased concern within the EU. This has been echoed by leading EU nations such as France and Germany, with calls to strengthen Europe’s self-reliance in defense.

Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, addressed the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, with a robust declaration: “European sovereignty is about taking responsibility ourselves for what is vital, and even existential, for us. It is about our ability but also about our willingness to defend our interests and values ourselves.”

She elucidated her vision for this new defense strategy by stating: “At the heart of this must be a simple principle: Europe must spend more, spend better, spend European.”

Following the outbreak of the Ukrainian conflict, EU nations have surged their defense budgets, with a significant portion earmarked for the American military industry. A notable instance is Germany’s announcement of a 100 billion-euro ($108 billion) revamp of its armed forces, allocating substantial funds to U.S.-made F-35 fighter jets and helicopters.

Von der Leyen suggested that EU countries should streamline their procurement processes akin to the joint acquisition of vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic. To nudge the industry towards greater risk-taking, she proposed EU guarantees for prospective orders of military hardware.

While there have been improvements in production, the initial goal to produce 1 million artillery shells per year has fallen short, with current figures standing at around half the target. However, officials are now hopeful that production might climb to 1.4 million shells annually by the end of December.

Further, the European Commission’s President opened up discussions on using the unexpected profits from the frozen Russian assets for collective military purchases for Ukraine. With several billion euros worth of Russian assets frozen throughout Europe, there are proposals, such as from Belgium, to utilize the interest from these funds specifically for Ukraine’s recovery efforts.

Von der Leyen, who is lobbying for a second term, voiced her support for establishing a defense commissioner in the succeeding EU commission, yet did not delve into the specific responsibilities this role would entail.

While the EU does not maintain an army and its members are keen on maintaining sovereign control over their military forces, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell highlighted that a dedicated commissioner would likely concentrate on the Union’s defense industry, in line with the foundational treaties of the EU.

With proposals for the new defense industry strategy to be put forward by the commission in the coming weeks, von der Leyen’s statements mark a renewed commitment to a more self-sufficient and robust European defense landscape.