– We're in the arms age. She pointed out that during the Tuesday speech, the head of the European Commission, adding that during the meetings with the European leaders in fresh days, it was stated that the countries of the continent were ready to go significantly increase defence spending.
Von der Leyen explained that it was both a "short-term" cost, linked to the assistance of the Russian occupier of Ukraine and a "long-term" which is intended to guarantee unchangeable safety and enable "the adoption of greater work on their shoulders".
Ursula von der Leyen presents the "Rearm Europe" plan
Ursula von der Leyen reported that she had sent a letter to European leaders in which she described five-point plan usage of financial resources to rapidly and importantly strengthen the defence capacity of the European Union.
The first point is the release of public funds at national level. "Member States are ready to invest more in their defence, and we must make them able to do so. Activation of the national stabilisation clause will importantly increase defence spending without triggering the excessive deficit procedure. If the state increases spending by 1.5% of GDP, it will make nearly 650 billion euro over a four-year period," explained the EC President.
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One of the points of the plan is besides the ‘new instrument’ in the form of EUR 150 billion in loans allocated to EU associate States for investment in defence. Von der Leyen assured that it was a ‘common’ spending of money to get artillery systems, long-range missiles, drones and anti-drone systems, or anti-aircraft defence systems.
She added that it was besides about expanding mobility and caring for cybersecurity. The loans are intended to let associate States to acquisition equipment that will be able to aid Ukrainian troops to defy Russian occupier attacks. “This will translate into military aid from Ukraine,” explained the head of the EC.
Von der Leyen: Europe is ready to emergence to the challenge
Von der Leyen pointed out that the plan she presented was besides about "using the strength of the European budget". "We can do much here in the short word to redirect more funds for defence-related investments. I can announce we'll propose new opportunities and incentives for associate States and they will decide whether they will want to usage programmes for defence spending," she said.
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The EC president announced that she besides wants to mobilise private capital and engage in activities European Investment Bank. “This is simply a European minute and we must meet it,” she said.
"In conclusion, Europe is ready to stand up and take responsibility. "Read Europe" could mobilise nearly EUR 800 billion for defence spending and for a resilient Europe. We will work closely with partners in NATO," concluded Ursula von der Leyen.
