Ursula von der Leyen proposes large-scale plan for EU rearmament and support for Ukraine

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed a plan to rearm the European Union and provide military assistance to Ukraine. According to her, EU members are ready to invest more in defense.

Von der Leyen also assured that this plan will allow EU states to increase defense spending without excessive deficits. The President of the European Commission said this during a briefing on March 4.

According to her, Europe is living in dangerous times and will face serious and devastating consequences if the threats come true. In this regard, the President of the European Commission is convinced that EU countries must take greater responsibility for their own security.

Von der Leyen assured that Europe is ready to significantly increase its defense spending to respond to the short-term need to act and support Ukraine. She also emphasized that the challenge lies in the long-term commitment to take responsibility for security in Europe.

The proposed plan envisages the allocation of funds to increase defense and assistance to Ukraine from the general budget and the EU and national budgets of individual states.

The first point of the plan suggests that EU members allocate funding for defense at the national level. Von der Leyen assured that EU countries are ready to invest more in defense if they have the fiscal space. In this regard, the European Commission intends to propose the possibility of bypassing the Growth and Stability Pact, which will allow states to increase defense spending without triggering the excessive deficit procedure. According to her, this will free up to 650 billion euros over four years.

The second point proposes to provide 150 billion euros in loans to member states for defense investments. These funds can be spent by EU countries on air defense systems, artillery systems, missiles and ammunition, drone and anti-drone systems, as well as joint procurement of equipment.