"This is Europe's moment and we must take advantage of it," he says Ursula von der Lajen presenting a plan worth 800 billion euros under the name "Rearming Europe". That will be the main topic of the EU summit this Thursday.
This is the latest emergency meeting of the heads of state and government of the European Union, after the meeting in London organized by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Sunday, as well as several earlier ones convened by French President Emmanuel Macron, writes Deutsche Welle (DW).
Since the USA suspended military and financial support to Ukraine, and their commitment to European security unclear, the EU has no choice but to get serious about improving its own security.
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, emphasizes that the situation is worse than ever and in a letter to the EU leaders states that the continent is "facing a clear and immediate threat that none of us have experienced in our adult life." The future of a free and sovereign Ukraine, as well as a safe and prosperous Europe, is at risk."
More money for the army
She hopes that the ReArm Europe plan will remove some of the economic excuses governments have used so far for low defense budgets.
One way is by allowing governments to break the maximum debt-to-GDP ratio rules when it comes to defense spending. Von der Leyen says that additional investments of 1,5 percent of GDP in each member state would mean almost 650 billion euros more for the military industry over the next four years.
The "Rearming Europe" plan foresees the creation of a new mechanism for securing 150 billion euros through loans guaranteed by the common EU budget, a concept that has caused controversy in some countries.
That money, as explained by an EU official who wished to remain anonymous, could be used by two or three cooperating members, or two, together with Ukraine. The goal is the joint procurement of large-scale equipment and capabilities, such as air and missile defense, drones and cyber security assets, especially in areas where Europe is currently dependent on the United States.
The same senior EU official also said that the desired outcome of the summit is for leaders to "indicate that these proposals should be adopted quickly" so that the EU can create its own, credible defence.
Hungary and Slovakia as an obstacle?
Hungary and Slovakia have signaled their usual opposition to any moves to help Ukraine. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico even published a letter that begins that way.
However, there is also room for an optimistic interpretation — that Fico will not block EU decisions that do not oblige Slovakia to participate financially.
And the main goal of the "Rearming Europe" plan is for countries to first gain access to funds in order to improve their own defense.
Giuseppe Spatafora, a researcher at the EU's Institute for Security Studies, believes Ursula von der Leyen's plan can win unanimous support, even if not immediately at the summit. The stakes, he suggests, have become high. Spatafora just published a study on what it would look like if the US turned its back on the EU.
He assesses that the fact that the package contains a number of options — additional borrowing, spending on joint purchases, redirecting money from cohesion funds to military purposes — "represents a way to get maximum consent." He also believes that the relatively rare mention of Ukraine in the plan was intended "to avoid the veto of individual members".
Still, Spatafora believes that even with countries that are not comfortable with the EU taking a bigger role in areas that are usually the responsibility of national governments or NATO, "you have to start with the money." "The role of the EU will be welcome if it provides additional resources, primarily money," he says.
Upheaval in Sweden
Until now, Sweden has been among the countries that have been reluctant to accept a greater EU role — and joint funding — in defense. Kale Hakansson, a researcher at the Swedish Defense Research Agency, said there had been a "change in tone and urgency" in recent days, following the deterioration of relations between President Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday February 28 and the subsequent suspension of US aid to Ukraine.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristerson has now informed his parliament that he fully supports the Rearmament of Europe package, after other countries that previously had reservations, such as Finland, Denmark and Germany, changed their positions.
"Sweden didn't want to be last," Hakansson said. "This package has been in the works for some time, but I think the ambitions have probably increased in the past few weeks." There is a real sense of urgency and a real fear that Europe could be left alone."
Germany and a thousand billion new debt
Speaking of a shift in attitudes, just hours after von der Leyen presented her package of proposals, the likely future partners in Germany's new government, the Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) and the Social Democrats (SPD), announced that as soon as they take power, they intend to lift the borrowing limit to allow for more defense spending. Presumptive future chancellor Friedrich Mertz (CDU) is promising an additional 500 billion euros for defense, along with another 500 billion euros for infrastructure.
Jeremy Cliff of the European Council on Foreign Relations think tank called the changes in Germany "astounding", as well as the "sheer fiscal power" these changes will unleash.
Turning a new leaf, starting a new book
Leaving a meeting in London hosted by the UK on Sunday, Ursula von der Leyen said she wanted to provide so much help to Ukraine that it would become a “steely, prickly pig” capable of withstanding external attacks. If EU countries make the most of the new instruments it offers them to improve their own capacities, the Union itself, she said, would gain an important layer of self-defense.
"Is it enough for the future?" Probably not. But as a first step, I think it's actually quite impressive," said a senior EU diplomat who also wished to remain anonymous.
An EU official was even more emphatic about the significance of the “Rearming Europe” plan: “This is turning a new leaf. I think we are now starting a new book, and it is called: ‘Europe of Defence’.”
