Billions for armaments and criticism of neutrality: what the EU is now planning

800 billion euros in expenses for defense: That’s still right simple billthat hired the commission and approved the EU tips on Thursday. The The nation states should go to the majority of this unspleed. The target that is gone over the thumb are 3.5 percent of the economic output Every country in defense expenses.

Brussels covers the states to the states by the Lozen borders for budget deficits and public debt. Money flowing into the military will be taken out of the budget bill. Out of Austria For example, this can afford higher expenses for the army without having to fear a deficit procedure from the EU. Besides that If the EU guarantees loans that take the states – initially up to a total amount of 150 billion euros.

“A first step”

As impressive as these numbers seem, for many they are Plans too vague and too short -term. A “First step” For example, it calls Poland Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Why does that Siegfried Muresan, Romanian Christian Democrat and One of the most important financial politicians in the EU Parliament clearly. First, in order to upgrade Europe’s armed forces and with European weapons Common procurement from tanks to drones And secondly one long -term planning. „Die Armor’s security companies want planning security, If you are supposed to build a new production. ” The Loosen to debt upper limits to a limited extentbe good, but that four years too short. Planning for the long-term EU budget that begins this year would have to provide for higher expenses for defense. What has now been decided “Will not be enough”

“Luxury products”

Joint procurement from then finally joint equipment: This is the only way for Europe’s armed forces that could really be defended. Europe’s arms manufacturers would often offer too expensive products in too small quantities, criticized Riho terrasfor many years commander the Estonia armed forces And today in Defense committee of the EU Parliament: “We need long -term European armamentsbut currently produce the Manufacturer luxury products. They need Change to mid -range. “

The experienced military knows that such changes do not go overnight. At the moment, after three years of war, they are Camps of European poor empty – and Ukraine urgently need weapons: “Short term we will have to buy everything to get something on the world market is to send it to Ukraine. ” After that, however, the Europeans would have to “procure wiser.” It could not be that each army still maintains its own standards for weapons.