Polish stupid media, outrageously stupid! omit, forget, and impose upon us their own hierarchy of importance (subordinated commerce, emotions and identity forming, shallow to the adopted pattern of "target") RELEVANTLY crucial messages and information on key issues for our future and our security.
One of these is yesterday's speech (the full following the entry of Jacek Pałasiński) of president von der Leyen at the European Parliament plenary session on strengthening European defence in unstable geopolitical landscape:
‘Mrs President,
Mr. Secretary of State,
Dear Members,
In fresh years, many European illusions have dispelled. The illusion that peace is lasting. The illusion that economical prosperity may be more crucial to Putin than the demolition of free and democratic Ukraine. The illusion that Europe itself has done adequate in terms of safety – whether economical or military, conventional or cybernetic.
When we look around each other, it becomes clear that there is no area for delusions.
Putin utilized the peace dividend to prepare for this war.
As a result, the planet is as dangerous as it has not been in generations.
Russia's violent aggressive war against Ukraine has been going on for the 3rd year and is more rooted and intense than ever.
We see the strength and danger of the increasing and worrying league of authoritarians. North Korea supplies Russia with an order for ammunition. Iran provides combat drones and, most importantly, the technology behind them to do unspoken harm to Ukrainian cities and citizens.
The ongoing war in Gaza and large-scale destabilisation in the mediate East indicate an era of insecurity and conflict in and outside the region.
We are besides seeing an ever-increasing increase in aggressive economical competition and disruption, which poses a very real hazard to European security.
So, as the outgoing president of Finland Niinistö did last month, "Europe must wake up".
And I would add: urgently.
We all know that the stake here is so advanced – our freedom and our prosperity. And we gotta start acting like one.
We must start working on the future of European safety architecture. In all dimensions, with all the velocity and political will required. due to the fact that the fact is, we haven't been in conflict since 2022, but much longer. The threats to our safety, well-being and lifestyle take on different forms and we all know them. any of them are obvious, any are more foggy on the surface. Whether it is simply a fight against political interference, limiting our dangerous dependence – a policy I called hazard simplification – or the elimination of hostile actors from our critical infrastructure. We Europeans must be on guard.
This is not just about defeating stalkers on the battlefield, but in our full society.
The good news is, we've already started most of the work.
In fact, fresh years have not only dispelled any European delusions.
But they besides dispelled many illusions about Europe.
That our unity will not stand in the face of war on our continent. Or that our rules and divisions will halt us from providing massive financial, military and political support.
Well, over the last 2 years, Europe has shown and proved that it will support Ukraine as long as necessary. We have besides shown and proved that a more sovereign Europe is not just wishful thinking.
Here I would like to make it clear: Europe's sovereignty will strengthen our partnerships. This will never affect the importance and request of our NATO alliance. In fact, a more sovereign Europe, especially in defence, is essential to strengthening NATO. That is why I am pleased to hear that Sweden will shortly become an ally with NATO. I would besides like to congratulate Sweden under the leadership of Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on the historical step for this country. At the heart of European sovereignty is taking work for what is crucial to us and even existential. It is about our ability, but it is besides about our readiness to self-defence our interests and values. This is what leaders agreed with the Versailles agenda just after the start of the war to reduce our strategical dependence in key areas specified as energy, key technologies – you remember the semi-conductors – economical opportunities and, of course, defence.
Member States have stepped up their efforts. Not further than last week's Aspides naval mission launched, the aim of which is to defend against a direct threat to freedom of navigation. Freedom of navigation as the basis for planet trade on 1 of the most crucial waterways in the world. associate States have besides increased their defence spending. Their national defence budgets have already increased by 20% compared to last year.
NATO has just announced that it expects its 18 members to exceed this year's defence spending mark of 2%. That's more than 3 members 10 years ago.
We are now spending more together on the shared capacities and projects of Europeans. The European Peace Instrument has mobilised EUR 6.1 billion to support Ukrainian armed forces in the field of lethal and non-lethal military equipment and supplies.
The European Defence Fund invests in advanced defence capabilities in key areas specified as maritime, ground and air combat, space early informing systems and cybernetics.
We have besides taken major steps forward in expanding our defence and production capacity. In the coming weeks, we will announce the decisions to award awards in the ASAP program. These funds will let us to double European ammunition production to more than 2 million units per year by the end of 2025.
Honourable Members,
All this advancement shows that Europe has become aware of the urgency and scale of the challenge ahead. But there's inactive a lot to do. We gotta decision fast. The threat of war may not be direct, but it is not impossible. The hazard of war should not be overestimated, but should be prepared for it. This starts with the urgent request to rebuild, supplement and modernise the associate States' armed forces. In doing so, Europe should strive to make and produce a fresh generation of battle-winning operational capabilities and to supply adequate material and technological advantage that we may request in the future. This means expanding our defence capacity over the next 5 years.
This must be based on a simple principle: Europe must spend more, spend better, spend in European. In the coming weeks, we will make any proposals as part of the first always European industrial defence strategy. 1 of the main objectives of the strategy and the related European Defence Investment Programme will be to give precedence to joint defence procurement.
Just like we did with large success with vaccines or, for example, natural gas. This will aid us reduce fragmentation and increase interoperability. However, in order to do this, we must send a strong signal to manufacture together.
Therefore, we will look at how to facilitate, for example, reception contracts.
They request safety and awareness that the products will be picked up.
Or, for example, acquisition contracts in advance for which we supply a guarantee. This would supply our defence companies with very unchangeable orders and, most importantly, long-term predictability.
We will increase our support for the improvement of industry, as we are presently doing in the case of ammunition as shortly as possible. We will identify European defence projects of common interest to focus efforts and resources where they have the top impact and added value. We will besides focus on innovation to give Europe an advantage in fresh technologies, which we see are being implemented worldwide in various conflicts.
This must be a real European effort. That's why I am arrogant to announce that we will be setting up the Defence Innovation Office in Kiev.
This will make Ukraine even closer to Europe and enable all associate States to benefit from Ukrainian experience in conflict and expertise in industrial defence innovation.
Honourable Members,
Taking this step together in defence will not be easy. This will require courageous decisions and political courage. This will in peculiar require a fresh European way of reasoning in the field of defence, from institutions, manufacture and investors. That is why I was very encouraged by president Calviño's words that the European Investment Bani is ready to do more to contribute to joint projects strengthening the European defence industry.
And I truly am calling on the associate States to support this proposal now.
The defence manufacture in Europe needs access to capital. I would like to encourage our public and private lenders to support our defence industry, in peculiar tiny and medium-sized enterprises.
Small and medium-sized enterprises are besides the backbone of our manufacture in defence.
They are the driving force behind innovation and a key origin in the single market. And the subject requires indivisible attention. I so personally support the appointment of a Commissioner for Defence in the future Commission.
And besides, I want us to think bigger. It is time to start talking about the usage of unexpected profits from frozen Russian assets for joint acquisition of military equipment for Ukraine. There must be no stronger symbol and more usage of this money than making Ukraine and Europe a safer place to live.
Honourable Members,
Ultimately, Europe should take work for its own security. The simple fact is, we have no luxury of comfort. We have no control over elections and decisions in another parts of the world. And we just don't have time to avoid these problems. With or without the support of our partners, we cannot let Russia win. And the cost of insecurity – the cost of Russia's triumph – is much higher than any savings we could make now. It is so time for Europe to step up its action.
Long live Europe!”
The country of politicians and politicians, editors and editors: Aren't those opinions and plans we should know and talk about seriously?
