The EU proposes to increase defense spending tenfold

The European Commissioner for Defense believes that 100 billion euros should be allocated to defense in the new budget of the European Union. According to him, the key now is to provide support to Ukraine.

EU Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius believes that defense spending in the next seven-year EU budget should be increased tenfold to 100 billion euros. He said this in an interview with Politico.

It is noted that the current seven-year budget totaling more than 1 trillion euros provides only 10 billion euros for defense.

Kubilius is the first EU Commissioner for Defense and Space. The post was created to better integrate the bloc's fragmented defense industry, boost spending, send more weapons to Ukraine and improve defense coordination with NATO and the US.

According to the European Commissioner, the key is to provide Ukraine with the support it needs to win the war.

"We must be ready for the possibility of Russian aggression. If we fail in Ukraine, then, of course, the probability of Russian military aggression against EU countries may increase," he said.

Rebuilding the bloc's arms industry will "require a lot of money" and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has announced a further €500bn increase in European defense spending over the next decade.

Kubilius warned that it will not be easy to find this money, but without it, all defense plans remain "theoretical".

The European Commissioner believes that new money can come from increasing the EU budget, issuing joint debt obligations and easing rules for institutions such as the European Investment Bank.

Kubilius suggested that the EU revise its fiscal rules when it comes to defense spending. Currently, the EU limits member states to a budget deficit of no more than 3% of GDP and public debt to no more than 60% of GDP.