Head of European diplomacy admits lack of funds for EU defense

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said that EU countries’ stockpiles of military equipment tired For the provision of aid to Ukraine.

According to him, the EU necessary He wrote this about him to his own armed forces to ensure security blog.

“Build European Defense Capabilities”

As Borrell points out, due to insufficient investment, the EU’s defense capabilities are not at the same level as those needed to counter current threats. “Reports from the European Defense Agency (EDA) have already warned of this, but before the war started there was no common sense to urgently increase defense spending. The question now is not just to spend more, but to spend together, because that’s the only way to spend better.

In terms of the amount of assets, casualties and global consequences involved in the war, it represents a tectonic shift in the European security environment. In the face of this conflict, the EU responded swiftly and decisively by offering political, financial, humanitarian and military support to Ukraine. It is now clear that Europe is in danger, as we pointed out before the war began, when we presented the Strategic Compass approved by the Council, which presents a step-by-step blueprint for real changes for a stronger and more powerful country. more unified security and defense policy,” writes the head of European diplomacy.

He said the new security environment shows that the EU should take more responsibility for its own security. “To do this, we need a modern and cohesive European army committed to building talent and strength.

The depletion of supplies as a result of our military support to Ukraine is the most obvious example of our shortcomings.

“But that’s in addition to what’s inherited from past budget cuts and underfunding.”

He also pointed to the “silent process of underfunding” to European armies and budget cuts caused by austerity policies. “I am not arguing here about the appropriateness of these cuts and the political decisions behind them. But it’s good to know in order to evaluate future spending policies when budgets may be tightened again.

It is also important to note the lack of coordination with which these cuts were made: in 2020, only 11% of investments were spent jointly, below the 35% benchmark accepted by Member States under the EDA. “Today’s task is to better coordinate the process of increasing spending and avoid increasing duplication and loopholes,” said the head of European diplomacy.

“The Gaps We Face”

According to him, the EU faces a number of gaps when it comes to overall military capabilities, overall defense investment, research and development, and comparison with other countries’ military developments.

He also cited data showing that from 1999 to 2021, total EU defense spending increased by only 20% (66% for the USA, 292% for Russia and 592% for China). “Of course, you have to take into account the initial level of military capacity, but these numbers show completely different trends.

If all EU member states had 2% of their GDP going to defense and 20% to invest, this would have resulted in an additional allocation of approximately €1.1 trillion to defense between 2006 and 2020, of which approximately €270 billion It would be for foreign trade. investment.

The lack of cooperation in the field of defense between EU member states is estimated at tens of billions of euros per year. Borrell added that many EU members have announced increases in defense spending in recent weeks.

From diagnosis to action

The European Defense Agency has identified three main areas of action. It is assumed that EU countries should intensify their work on combat readiness of troops, including replenishment. The second direction is to quantitatively and qualitatively increase existing capabilities over the next five years, focusing on the gaps accumulated in the past, such as strategic support, air defense modernization, cyber and space capabilities. Third, to jointly develop key future talents over the long term.

Borrell announced that a joint Task Force will be established in Brussels to support short-term purchasing needs and encourage EU member states to buy together. It also includes the launch of a tool to strengthen European defense industry capacity through joint procurement and the regulation of the European Defense Investment Programme.

“We will also consider the budgets of the European Defense Fund and the possibility of strengthening military mobility through the European Union Tool programme. Finally, we will consider the European Investment Bank, in cooperation with the EDA, to engage the European defense industry in the development of critical technologies and industrial capacities through joint procurement. We invite you to evaluate how you can support it.

As always, we need political will and leadership, and increased defense spending offers us a one-time opportunity to tackle some of the long-standing issues that have hampered the EU’s defense efforts.

Now is the time to advance European defence. We need to strengthen the European defense industry base and ensure that the necessary military capabilities are in place. In order to increase our military potential, to protect ourselves, to make NATO stronger and to better support our partners when necessary.”

The head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, admitted that EU stocks of military equipment are depleted due to aid to Ukraine. He also pointed to the need for the creation of a European armed forces to ensure the security of the countries of the Community. On his blog, Borrell described the “silent underfunding process” of European armies and the budget cuts caused by austerity policies, and also made calculations to help boost defense capabilities. Read more in the article “socialbites.ca”.



Source: Gazeta

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