EU defense strategy must include Ukraine, says European Commission President
The European Union (EU) should take into account Ukraine’s military needs when determining the future strategy of the European defense industry. “Our strategy can only be complete if it also takes into account Ukraine’s needs and industrial capacity,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during a speech at the EU Commission’s annual conference on Thursday, November 30 European Defense Agency.
First step: Inclusion in the “industry strategy consulting process”. “This should make it possible to integrate Ukraine into some of our defense programs, if necessary with the consent of the European Parliament and the Council,” said Ursula von der Leyen. She recalled that the Commission plans to present its program for the European defense industry early next year, which will also examine options for financing the industry. Under this program, the Commission will seek to recognize the defense industry’s contribution to Europe’s security among sustainable financial investors, she added.
The EU defense industry should increase its ammunition production capacity to one million rounds a year, said Ursula von der Leyen. This goal is separate from the EU’s plan to deliver one million artillery shells and rockets to Ukraine within a year, a goal that the European Union is unlikely to achieve, according to the EU minister, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and other officials becomes.
In addition, Ukrainian Minister of Strategic Industries Oleksandr Kamyshin met with EU Commissioner Thierry Breton. “Strengthening cooperation is essential,” he said writes the latter further.