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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said that the issue of EU defence funding is open for discussion, stressing the need to protect European values in a world that is becoming increasingly “transactional”. She said this during a press conference on Sunday, The Guardian reports.
European values under threat
Without directly mentioning Donald Trump, von der Leyen stressed that the geopolitical landscape has undergone dramatic changes over the past 100 days. “Our European values, democracy, freedom, and the rule of law are under threat. We see sovereignty and international commitments being challenged,” she said.
Increased military spending and possible joint borrowing
EU leaders recently endorsed the ambitious €800 billion von der Leyen plan, which provides a simplified mechanism for member states to obtain loans to increase defence spending. Some countries are pushing for further steps, including the introduction of joint loans to directly finance defence.
Commenting on these initiatives, von der Leyen said: “Nothing is off the table. I am open to everything that is necessary”. However, the implementation of such plans requires the support of Germany, which previously opposed joint defence lending.
The EU and the US: an alliance with differences
Despite the fact that Ursula von der Leyen has repeatedly called the United States an ally, concerns are growing in the EU about Donald Trump’s possible return to the presidency. He has already demonstrated scepticism about supporting Ukraine, cut off military aid, and spoken about the possibility of imposing tariffs on the EU.
Von der Leyen assured that Brussels’ relations with Washington are different from those with China and remain strategically important, although they have some contradictions: “Yes, we have differences… but our common interests always prevail.”
European defence union: prospect or reality?
Von der Leyen called the 800 billion defence fund a potential foundation for the creation of a European Defence Union. At the same time, the question of the possible participation of third countries, such as the United Kingdom, Norway, and Canada, in European defence projects remains open.
France has traditionally advocated a “buy European” policy, while Germany and Poland allow the purchase of military equipment outside the EU. Von der Leyen seems to support a more flexible approach: “We don’t need to reinvent the wheel – we need to develop a reasonable mechanism for cooperation.”
Assistance to Ukraine: commitments and challenges
Despite her general statements of support for Ukraine, von der Leyen did not give a clear answer to the call by European diplomat Kaja Kallas for immediate delivery of 1.5 million rounds of ammunition, air defence systems and drones to Kyiv. However, she stressed that aid would “definitely” increase.
The EU has already provided Ukraine with €52 billion in military aid, which is equal to the US contribution. At the same time, von der Leyen confirmed the EU’s intention to gradually abandon Russian gas, although the actual timeline for achieving this goal remains uncertain.
Results and next steps
In the coming weeks, von der Leyen plans to convene the first-ever EU security summit, covering foreign policy, energy, defence, cyber security and external threats. This will be an important step in shaping a new European security strategy that will take into account current challenges and risks.
