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European leaders announced their intention to collectively rearm and increase independence in response to Russian aggression that caused a “tectonic shift” on the continent.
The leaders of the European Union’s 27 member states held an “informal meeting” at the historic Palace of Versailles outside Paris on Friday to discuss the invasion of Ukraine and determine next steps. Ukraine has requested fast track admission to the organization, but Macron said the answer was a resounding no, according to The Guardian.
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Instead, the meeting turned to discussing the future of the union, which led to the EU’s resolution to reduce its dependence on other countries for “our food, our energy, our defense.”
“We want to be open to the world, but we want to choose partners and not depend on anyone,” said French President Emmanuel Macron. “The Versailles Declaration is connected with the fact that sovereignty in Europe, which someone could consider a slogan or a French fantasy, is now considered by everyone as decisive.”
The European leaders argued that the decision to strengthen the defensive capabilities would be consistent with NATO and its goals, which remain “the basis of collective defense for its members.”
“A stronger and more capable EU in the field of security and defense will make a positive contribution to global and transatlantic security and complement NATO,” the declaration says.
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The leaders agreed to “invest more and better in defense capabilities and innovative technologies” through increased defense spending and through greater cooperation and coordination between the armed forces. European Council President Charles Michel called the declaration the “beginning” of European defence.
Germany continues to show the most surprising change in position: Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced on February 27 that his government will provide a 100 billion euro fund to strengthen its armed forces after decades of non-aggression to conflicts. In the months leading up to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Germany conspicuously refrained from providing lethal aid.
The mayor of Kyiv called it “a joke” that Germany donated 5,000 helmets to support their defense efforts in the weeks leading up to the invasion.
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But now Germany seems to have predicted a continent-wide change in policy.
The most interesting policy outlined in the declaration is to increase synergy “between civil, defense and space research and innovation.” Countries remain concerned about “the ever-increasing hybrid war… cyber resilience… and the fight against disinformation.”
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The European Commission will present an analysis of the defense investment gap between member states by mid-May and will propose “any further initiatives necessary to strengthen the European defense industrial and technological base”.