Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine, Europe has begun to compensate for years of underfunding of the security and defense sectors, so national defense budgets of member states have increased, on average, by 20% from 2022.
The defense budgets of the EU countries are constantly growing
The defense budgets of the countries Europe are working at full capacity.
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, stated this during a speech at the European Security and Defense Summit in Brussels.
European defense is a task for all of Europe — for its member countries and for member countries that should cooperate closely with each other. Member countries have increased defense spending, with their national defense budgets increasing by 20% from 2022. It was compensation for years of underfunding. At the same time, we spend more together on joint capabilities and projects. The European Peace Fund allowed the mobilization of 6.1 billion euros to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine with lethal and non-lethal equipment and supplies. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European CommissionShe noted that within the framework of the European Defense Fund, European countries are investing more together in the development of modern capabilities in such critical areas as the navy, air assets, space-based early warning systems, and cyber defense.
As part of the latest proposal for the formation of the European defense industry program, the European Commission proposes to allocate an additional 1.5 billion euros from the EU budget for such purposes. According to Ursula von der Leyen, this will allow further progress in strengthening European sovereignty.
Let me be very clear that European sovereignty will never be achieved as a result of our partners and friends. Obviously, this will never undermine the importance and necessity of our NATO Alliance. De facto, that Europe will be more sovereign, in particular, in defense, this will be important for strengthening NATO, since the member countries will have a single set of forces. But a key provision of European sovereignty is the ability to take responsibility for what is important and even existential for us.
A large-scale war is possible in Europe
On the conviction of the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, the Russian Federation's war against Ukraine — it is not the only thing that the residents of the European Union should be afraid of.
The diplomat draws attention to the fact that the risk of a new war in Europe is not a fantasy, which means that Europeans must find new ways to finance preparation for it.
His statement came immediately after several European military and political leaders recently warned that Putin could invade NATO in the near future.
Undoubtedly, war is looming over us… and a conventional high-intensity war in Europe is no longer a fantasy.
According to Borrell, it is the Russian Federation that threatens Europe with its war in Ukraine and hybrid attacks on EU countries.
Diplomat urges not to ignore the danger despite the fact that “the war will not start tomorrow”.