European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the security of Europe and Ukraine has reached a crucial stage, amid the US's temporary suspension of military aid to Ukraine. At the EU defense crisis summit held in Brussels on March 6 with the participation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European Council President Antonio Costa, von der Leyen assessed the current situation as extremely serious.
A decisive moment for Europe
Von der Leyen stressed that Europe faces concrete threats and must take the necessary measures to ensure its security. "We must give Ukraine the opportunity to defend itself and fight for a just peace," she said. In this regard, the European Commission President presented a comprehensive plan for rearmament to the heads of state and government of the European Union countries.
According to the proposed plan, the European Union could raise up to 800 billion euros. In addition, von der Leyen proposed introducing a "new EU financing mechanism" to financially support European countries in the field of rearmament. This mechanism should include loans worth 150 billion euros, which would be provided under the guarantee of the European Union budget. She also proposed temporarily relaxing the rules of the European Union budget for four years.
The position of Germany and Scholz
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz proposed a long-term adjustment of the EU regulatory system. In his opinion, countries should have the opportunity to invest in the defense and security sectors for the long term. This position was supported by the Baltic states, but "austere" countries such as the Netherlands and Sweden were skeptical of this approach. Diplomats warned that excessive relaxation of financial rules could lead to a new financial crisis.
Preparing for a new era
The German initiative is leading to political changes not only at the level of the European Union, but also in Germany itself. Potential partners in the future government coalition - the Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) and the Social Democrats (SPD) - have agreed to exclude defense spending from budget restrictions.
Today's developments in European security are being seen as a turning point in the history of the region. What decisions the European Union makes to strengthen its defense and help Ukraine could have a significant impact on the geopolitical situation in the region in the coming years.
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