Speaking about the lessons learned from the conflict, von der Leyen acknowledged Europe’s historic reluctance to invest adequately in its own defence. She highlighted the critical role of the United States in supporting Ukraine, praising America’s commitment to European security but emphasised that Europe must take greater responsibility for its own defence.
The second half of the decade will be high-risk.
We Europeans must be on guard.
We must think about our Union as, intrinsically, a security project.
Where Central Europe has a crucial role to play ↓ https://t.co/m3LndLHjkN
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) August 30, 2024
“I cannot overemphasise the importance of the US’ support for Ukraine since the start of this war. Once again, America has stood up for the freedom of all Europeans. I feel a deep sense of gratitude for this but also a deep sense of responsibility. Protecting Europe is first and foremost Europe’s duty,” von der Leyen said. “And while NATO must remain the centre of our collective defence, we need a much stronger European pillar.”
Von der Leyen pointed out the progress made since the start of the war, noting that EU Member States have increased their defence spending significantly, rising from just over EUR 200 billion before the war to nearly EUR 300 billion this year. She also mentioned that the European defence industry has responded to the new security landscape by reopening production lines, placing new orders, and reducing bureaucratic obstacles to expedite production. However, she cautioned that these steps are insufficient to meet the current threats.
“The reality is that even if Europeans take the current security threats seriously, it will take time and massive investment to re-structure our defence industries,” she said. “Our aim must be to build continent-size defence output. And Central Europe is very well positioned to be one of the drivers and one of the great beneficiaries of this new push for the European defence sector.”
Von der Leyen stressed the importance of smaller countries and companies adopting a larger strategic vision, advocating for a systemic overhaul of Europe’s defence framework. To further this goal, she announced her intention to appoint a dedicated Defence Commissioner in the next European Commission, underscoring the strategic responsibility Europe faces in bolstering its defence capabilities.
“We must have in mind a systemic overhaul of Europe’s defence. This is Europe’s strategic responsibility,” von der Leyen concluded.
The European Commission’s call for enhanced defence production and investment comes at a critical time as the EU seeks to navigate the complex security environment posed by ongoing conflicts and geopolitical tensions. The appointment of a Defence Commissioner could mark a significant step towards a more unified and self-reliant European defence policy.
