EU to hold summit on strengthening defense

The head of the European Council, António Costa, sent an invitation to the leaders of the EU member states to an informal summit on February 3 near Brussels, which was dedicated to the subject of European defense. It was reported by European reality.

It was mentioned that the purpose of the summit is to prepare the basis for the decisions that the EU countries have to make in the future, as well as to give recommendations to the European Commission and the High Representative in the preparation of a “white paper” in the future of defense of Europe. Costa said he intends to return to the defense topic at the European Council meeting in June 2025.

According to the head of the European Council, Europe must take greater responsibility for its own defense.

“Member states have already increased their national defense spending in recent years. However, we know that significant additional defense investment is needed to replenish stockpiles, improve our defense preparedness against a broad range of threats… and accordingly strengthen the European defense technological and industrial base,” Costa said.

He said that EU states are interested in closer cooperation at the European level to maximize economies of scale and reduce costs, guarantee interoperability, ensure stable and long-term demand and avoid duplication.

“The level of investment, including in research and development, required to strengthen our capabilities is beyond the means of individual Member States acting on their own. Furthermore, effective defense is a ‘common good’ ‘ that benefits all Europeans,” the leader stressed the European Council.

It was previously reported that EU Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius believes that defense spending in the next seven-year EU budget should increase tenfold – to 100 billion euros.

Let’s recall that in November last year, the EU for the first time financed the joint purchase of weapons, part of which Ukraine will receive.