EU defence shortfalls demand urgent action, warns Commissioner Kubilius

By Defence Industry Europe

The European Union faces “colossal” military shortfalls, necessitating a bold, unified approach to defence production and acquisition, said Andrius Kubilius, European Commissioner for Defence and Space. Speaking at the European Defence Agency’s (EDA) annual conference, Kubilius called for a “big bang” strategy to address these gaps and emphasised the need for collective action.

 

“The shortfalls in military materiel, if we compare with the Russian war economy, are colossal. We can no longer afford a fragmented and incremental approach. We need a real, big bang approach to increase defence production and acquisition. We also need a European approach,” Commissioner Kubilius said.

He cited Galileo, Europe’s satellite navigation system, as a prime example of successful cooperation.

 

General Onno Eichelsheim, The Netherlands’ Chief of Defence, echoed Kubilius’ sentiments, noting that strengthening Ukraine’s defence capabilities benefits both NATO and the EU. He also advocated for pooling member states’ demands to streamline defence procurement from industry.

Ukraine’s Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, speaking via video link, detailed his nation’s remarkable strides in military manufacturing despite ongoing challenges. Ukraine has become the world’s largest producer of military autonomous systems, manufacturing over 4.5 million drones annually and significantly increasing its artillery, armoured personnel carrier, and missile production capacities.

 

While Ukraine’s defence industry is on track to reach a capacity of €34 billion by 2025, Umerov highlighted a significant funding shortfall of €18 billion. This gap threatens to undermine Kyiv’s production potential and its ability to sustain vital military operations. Umerov called for European support to bridge the deficit, facilitate technology transfers, and establish strategic partnerships with Ukrainian industry.

 

As the EDA marks its 20th anniversary, Kubilius urged the EU to replicate its successes in other domains, such as air defence, cyber shields, and military mobility. “We need the same energy in defence,” he stated, underscoring the importance of prioritising joint efforts to strengthen Europe’s strategic autonomy.

 

Source: European Defence Agency (EDA).

 

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