BRUSSELS: The European Union ought to think about using earnings from frozen Russian belongings to purchase navy provides for Ukraine, European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen mentioned on Wednesday.
“It’s time to begin a dialog about utilizing the windfall earnings of frozen Russian belongings to collectively buy navy tools for Ukraine,” she instructed the European Parliament in a speech urging the EU to do extra on defence coverage.
“There might be no stronger image and no better use for that cash than to make Ukraine and all of Europe a safer place to reside.”
Von der Leyen mentioned the specter of warfare for the EU “is probably not imminent, however it isn’t unimaginable”.
“The dangers of warfare shouldn’t be overblown, however they need to be ready for and that begins with the pressing must rebuild, replenish, modernise member states’ armed forces,” she mentioned.
In her speech, von der Leyen previewed a brand new European Industrial Defence Technique that her fee will current within the coming weeks, saying one in every of its important goals can be to prioritise joint procurement.
“Europe ought to try to develop and manufacture the subsequent era of battle-winning operational capabilities,” she mentioned. “Which means turbo-charging our defence industrial capability within the subsequent 5 years.”
She mentioned better European efforts in defence wouldn’t diminish the necessity for the NATO alliance.
“The truth is, a extra sovereign Europe, specifically on defence, is important to strengthening NATO,” she mentioned.
“It’s time to begin a dialog about utilizing the windfall earnings of frozen Russian belongings to collectively buy navy tools for Ukraine,” she instructed the European Parliament in a speech urging the EU to do extra on defence coverage.
“There might be no stronger image and no better use for that cash than to make Ukraine and all of Europe a safer place to reside.”
Von der Leyen mentioned the specter of warfare for the EU “is probably not imminent, however it isn’t unimaginable”.
“The dangers of warfare shouldn’t be overblown, however they need to be ready for and that begins with the pressing must rebuild, replenish, modernise member states’ armed forces,” she mentioned.
In her speech, von der Leyen previewed a brand new European Industrial Defence Technique that her fee will current within the coming weeks, saying one in every of its important goals can be to prioritise joint procurement.
“Europe ought to try to develop and manufacture the subsequent era of battle-winning operational capabilities,” she mentioned. “Which means turbo-charging our defence industrial capability within the subsequent 5 years.”
She mentioned better European efforts in defence wouldn’t diminish the necessity for the NATO alliance.
“The truth is, a extra sovereign Europe, specifically on defence, is important to strengthening NATO,” she mentioned.
