In 2022, EU countries spent €58 billion on weapons procurement, as stated by the head of EU diplomacy, Josep Borelj, highlighting a significant shift towards strengthening the bloc's defense capabilities amid growing tensions with Russia and a potential shift in US support. The EU Commission has proposed a €1.5 billion common defense industry package, with officials unveiling plans to massively boost weapons production and procurement to shift from a reliance on US arms and respond to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This includes a proposal by Breton for a €100 billion fund to enhance European defense production, aiming to reduce reliance on US-made weapons and include Ukraine in the procurement scheme to jointly support production capacity. The strategy also involves collaborative funding for collective weapon acquisitions and a defense industry forum with Ukraine. The EU is considering using frozen Russian assets, which have accrued nearly €4.4 billion in interest, for military support to Ukraine, with suggestions that the earnings from those assets should be sent to Ukraine. The bloc's first-ever defense industrial strategy calls for member states to buy more weapons from European countries, facing rising aggression from Russia, and aims for EU countries to buy at least 40% of their defense equipment collectively and spend at least half of their defense procurement budget on products made in Europe by 2030. Additionally, there are proposals to confiscate assets belonging to the Russian state, potentially freeing up over €250 billion. Ursula von der Leyen emphasized that Putin will be held accountable, indicating a courtroom awaits him in The Hague.
🇪🇺 "European Union must launch the production of new generation weapons for victory on the battlefield", - the head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen 👀 She said that Putin will bear responsibility for everything and that a courtroom awaits him in The Hague.
🇷🇺🇪🇺🚨‼️ “The European Union must launch the production of new generation weapons for victory on the battlefield” - the head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen https://t.co/8e7DCacF57
🇪🇺🇷🇺🚨‼️ Ursula von der Leyen said that Putin will bear responsibility for everything and that a courtroom awaits him in The Hague https://t.co/YSMqJUsPWJ
Putin sacrificed Russia to save himself. He is responsible for war crimes. There is a courtroom in the Hague waiting for him - Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission. Interestingly enough, this video was published on a Russian news Telegram channel. https://t.co/nV0MNgH3Rs
"Putin sacrificed the country to save himself." Ursula von der Leyen said Putin will be held accountable and a courtroom is already waiting for him in The Hague. https://t.co/6aPMw7j1Cw
Another way Congress can help Ukraine, confiscate frozen Russian funds https://t.co/AcyCaqfJ0U
Professor Harold Hongju Koh makes the case for liquidating Russian assets at @just_security. “The case for seizing frozen Russian assets is simple,” he writes. “Russia, not Ukraine, should bear the costs of its unprovoked war.” https://t.co/19OsrSPEjS
The U.S. is pressuring Europe to support the idea of confiscating frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine's reconstruction, potentially freeing up over €250 billion. While the U.S. is backing this plan, European powers, including Germany, France, and Italy, are unconvinced due to… https://t.co/8IWqpOAHM7
The European Union (EU) presented its "first-ever" European Defence Industrial Strategy at the EU level in response to security concerns. https://t.co/NmS0DHiyMd
TRUMP’S TOUGH TALK WORKS: EU Commissioner Plans To Boost Military Industry and Outgrow US-Dependency on Defense via @gatewaypundit https://t.co/GC1myL0z5a
If you really wanted to accelerate the end of dollar hegemony, this would be an excellent way to do it. “…confiscate assets belonging to the Russian state that were frozen when the Kremlin launched its invasion… Such a raid would potentially free-up more than €250 billion. https://t.co/17erKH8fCI
EU Pushing Arms Industry To 'War Economy Mode' While Seeking To Trump-Proof Itself https://t.co/60ce5GWxG1
EU looks to increase arms production to shift away from US weapons https://t.co/9mRi0hKvNM https://t.co/MpWioXqMSh
EU mulls using frozen Russian assets for military support of Ukraine – Borrell The funds belonging to Moscow’s central bank have accrued nearly €4.4 billion in interest over the past year https://t.co/IPNstETKNR https://t.co/otzKVK5Vrr
🇪🇺 EU presents first-ever defence industry strategy with Ukraine included in it https://t.co/aT9S1az1ao
EU threatens to cut off Britain's weapon supply to look after itself if war breaks out with Putin https://t.co/iF9BRsQtWx https://t.co/W22Kt8MB5p
EU proposes significant defense enhancement amid concerns over Russia and potential changes in US support. https://t.co/lqbpJsfzVe
EU countries spent 58 billion euros in 2023 for the acquisition of weapons, said Josep Borelj. Also, there are not enough funds for the defense industry to produce the necessary amount of weapons for Ukraine and for its own needs, Borelj complained https://t.co/FmXO4lRB3W
EU Unveils Plan for First-Ever Defense Industrial Strategy https://t.co/3CgloIFA9Y
The EU’s new defence industrial strategy, published today, is very radical. “By 2030, EU countries should: buy at least 40% of the defence equipment by working together; spend at least half of their defence procurement budget on products made in Europe” https://t.co/30gltx3bKA
Top European Union officials on Tuesday outlined ambitious plans to boost its defense industry at an unprecedented pace as the bloc seeks to respond to the threat posed by Russia's war on Ukraine and a trans-Atlantic partner that could be wavering on... https://t.co/5fLpc637rX
The EU defense industry does not have enough funds to produce the necessary amount of weapons for Ukraine and for its own needs, complained the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borelj. " The EU is considering using frozen Russian assets for military support to Ukraine. EU… https://t.co/Hzl7yYBIcu
Interesting report on Israeli moves to reduce reliance on US-made weapons https://t.co/8ztfCIOMrF
The EU launched its first-ever defense industrial strategy, calling for the bloc’s 27 member states to purchase more weapons from European countries in the face of rising aggression from Russia. https://t.co/gjrhsoI9qa
If Western governments are reluctant to send Russia's frozen assets to Ukraine to help it fend off and rebuild from Russia's war crimes, at least the earnings from those assets should be sent to Ukraine. https://t.co/YJQu0u4kaI
🛡️ European Commission suggests holding defence industry forum with Ukraine https://t.co/IrV1oDPOJL
EU proposes collaborative funding for collective weapon acquisitions to strengthen defense capabilities https://t.co/WemtftnaCD https://t.co/QK2O5hpldI
"Breton proposed a 100 billion euro ($108 billion) fund to boost European defense production. EU officials told Reuters that they want to include Ukraine in the procurement scheme to jointly support production capacity." https://t.co/MBrxKNIt50
Europe starts war machine to wean itself off US weapons https://t.co/3TrKn9yvvm
EU officials have unveiled an ambitious proposal to massively boost weapons production and procurement in the bloc to shift from a reliance on US arms and in reaction to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. https://t.co/YmjP1aY85n
EU Commission proposes 1.5 billion euro common defence industry package https://t.co/KXs4MKHaaf https://t.co/bGilekM2IH
🇪🇺🇺🇦‼️🚨 "EU countries spent €58 billion in 2022 on the purchase of weapons" - head of EU diplomacy Borrell https://t.co/ia22Np9Q5T