The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, presented a plan to rearm the European Union and support Ukraine for 800 billion euros. About this informs DW.
According to her, the main question now is not that Europe’s security is under threat and that more needs to be done.
“Actually, we already know the answers to these questions. The real question for us is whether Europe is ready to act decisively, as the situation demands. And whether Europe is ready to act quickly.” – said von der Leyen.
She again emphasized the need to rearm Europe both for its own needs and to support Ukraine. That is why, according to her, on the eve of the EU summit, she sent a letter to European leaders with a five-step plan for the rearmament of Europe.
The first point of the plan provides for the release of public funds to finance defense needs at the national level.
“Member states are already ready to invest more in defense if they have fiscal space. That’s why we can allow them to do that. That’s why we will offer the possibility of bypassing the Growth and Stability Pact, which will allow states to increase defense spending without triggering the excessive deficit procedure,” – von der Leyen explained.
Фото: focus.ua
The second phase includes the creation of a new financial instrument that will provide member countries with loans worth 150 billion euros for defense investments in air defense systems, artillery, missiles, ammunition, as well as drone and anti-drone technologies, in particular for joint purchases of military equipment. The third step is to use the EU budget for defense needs.
“In the short term, we will be able to direct funds to defense investments,” – emphasized von der Leyen.
The European Commission plans to prepare a mechanism that will allow member states to use cohesion funds to increase defense spending.
