“The European Union has put safety not only in terms of declarations, but besides in terms of circumstantial programmes,” emphasises Michał Szczerba, MEP.
EU investment in safety and defence manufacture is gaining momentum. The 2030 Preparedness strategy involves integrating national defence industries in associate States and developing fresh technologies in armies. The European Commission besides proposes various options for expanding the financing of defence expenditure.
2030 readiness foresees the gigantic improvement and integration of EU defence industries
"The 2030 strategy envisages the gigantic improvement and integration of defence industries in the EU countries. We besides have the SAFE instrument, which is EUR 150 billion for loans, which will let all armies within the Union to arm themselves to the teeth – emphasises Michał Szczerba in an interview with Newseria agency.
On 19 March, the European Commission presented a White Paper on European Defence - Preparedness 2030. It sets out a framework for the ReArm Europe plan to mobilise more than €800 billion to strengthen Europe's defence. The EC proposes various options for expanding the financing of defence expenditure. The late adopted by the associate States, the SAFE debt facility provides for €150 billion in support of the expansion of pan-European capabilities, including anti-aircraft defence and ammunition. Loans shall be granted only for joint contracts involving at least 2 countries. Ukraine and the countries of the European economical Area may besides join joint procurement.
Defence Reading Omnibus
– Poland can be the largest beneficiary of these measures. We presume the usage of around PLN 100 billion to strengthen the Polish army, on the 1 hand, through the essential purchases, retrofits, but besides these funds we can invest in the Shield of the East, in the full strategy of fortifications, fortifications utilizing modern technologies on the east border – points out Euro MP.
In parallel, the EU introduces a package of regulatory simplifications for the defence industry, including Defence Readiness Omnibus – a review and revision of directives on common purchases and transit of defence products. The main nonsubjective is to reduce the administrative burden for companies active in reporting and reporting, which is to let them to operate more effectively in the defence industry.
Cybersecurity is an crucial aspect, with a circumstantial programme
– This will accelerate actions and investments in the defence industry, besides in terms of environmental commitments. simply these investments, fresh weapons and ammunition factories to be built in Europe, we will be able to build faster,” explains the politician.
In the framework of joint action, EU countries are besides working together to defend critical infrastructure. It is about securing energy, transmission and telecommunications installations, including offshore cables, including the Baltic. “This is, above all, the safety of critical infrastructure and there are measures. Cybersecurity is an crucial aspect, with a circumstantial programme from which we finance these activities," emphasises Michał Szczerba.
Some associate States usage the loosening of fiscal rules for defence expenditure
According to the ENISA report, the critical infrastructure sector – including energy, wellness or public administration – remains 1 of the most common cyber attacks in Europe. There are besides advanced levels of incidents, including ransomware attacks. any associate States usage the loosening of fiscal rules on defence expenditure – 16 countries, including Poland, have been given the chance to exclude up to 1.5% of GDP from the excessive deficit procedure in this area. Poland, as 1 of the first countries, created the safety and Defence Fund, from which local governments can finance double-use investments.
– These can be underground garages built in the city centres, which will besides have the function of a shelter in the event of a war, which I hope will never happen, but also, for example, road infrastructure in east Poland, which will enable more effective mobility of military equipment – explains the Euro MP. – These are cyber-security tools, the full discussion on safety of critical infrastructure. It's not just power plants, it's waterworks, it's sewage. Warsaw's water supply company is already conducting extended activities to defend us from various negative scenarios. This is besides the protection of databases, so these dual-use measures are very different.
