by Julia Payne
MUNICH (Reuters) – 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, that goes hand in hand,” declared Ursula von der Leyen during a round table at the Munich Security Conference.
The proposal aims to increase defense spending, “spend better” with joint purchases and agreements to provide forecasts to industry and better interoperability between European armed forces, the president said.
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The aim is also to concentrate spending in Europe in order to maintain “good jobs” for the taxpayers who foot the bill, she added.
Ursula von der Leyen also believes that Ukraine must be integrated into European defense programs, because Russia “surpasses Ukraine” in soldiers.
Regarding financial aid, it would be in the United States’ interest to pass 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 attempts to [Vladimir] Putin to destabilize democracies, but also of all the other autocratic adversaries that we monitor very closely (…), that democracies are united, determined and resolute.”
She also promised that, if re-elected as head of the European Union (EU) executive, she would create a new position of Defense Commissioner.
In February, the EU decided to provide Ukraine with new aid of 50 billion euros over the next four years, on top of the 88 billion euros already spent since the launch of the Russian invasion in February 2022 .
“The question is whether democracies will prevail globally,” said Ursula von der Leyen.
(Reporting Julia Payne and Andrew Gray; French version Kate Entringer)
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