Amidst significant geopolitical uncertainty and threats, MEPs call for decisive action to strengthen and protect the international rules-based order. Plenary holds a joint debate on how to strengthen European security and defence. Ursula VON DER LEYEN highlights that priroity should be given to a defence joint procurement. EC President also proposes the designation of a Defence Commissioner for the next Commission.

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

common security and defence policy (T)

WEBER, Manfred (EPP, DE)

REINTKE, Terry (Greens/EFA, DE)

HAYER, Valérie (Renew, FR)

MARQUES, Pedro (S&D, PT)

VON DER LEYEN, Ursula (DE, EC)

foreign affairs and security policy (T)

European Security and Defence: extracts from the debate

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/75020535/1708702734189_I253362Chapters%5BSD-EN%5D.srt

Arrival of Ursula VON DER LEYEN, EC President to the hemicycle

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the European Commission - The threat of war may not be imminent, but it is not impossible and the risks of war should not be overblown. But they should be prepared for. And that starts with the urgent need to rebuild, replenish and modernise member states armed forces.

'SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the European Commission - Europe must spend more, spend better spent European. We will put forward some proposals in the next weeks with the first ever European Industrial Defence Strategy. One of the central aims of the strategy and the European Defence Investment Programme that will come with it will be to prioritise defence joint procurement. Just as we did it very successfully with the vaccines, for example, with natural gas.

'SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the European Commission - This must be a truly European effort, and that is why I am proud to announce that we will set up an office for Defence Innovation in Chief. This will bring Ukraine ever closer to Europe and it will enable all Member States to draw on Ukraine's battlefield experience and expertise in industrial defence innovation.

'SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the European Commission - Small and medium enterprises. Also in defence, small and medium enterprises are the backbone of our industry. They are the driver of innovation and a critical factor in the single market. And the topic needs undivided attention. And this is why I'm personally supportive of a designated Defence Commissioner for the next Commission.

'SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the European Commission - It is time to start a conversation about using the windfall profits of frozen Russian assets to jointly purchase military equipment for Ukraine. There could be no stronger symbol and no greater use for that money than to make Ukraine and all of Europe a safer place to live.

'SOUNDBITE (English), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), - The Americans have one tank. We have 17 different kind of tanks. The Americans have three weapon systems. We have 160 weapon systems. It's so obvious that we are wasting money. We have to buy European. You have to care about our jobs. We have to come in exports rules for the future. To have common industry in defence, we need to coordinate all this. That's why the idea to have a commissioner responsible for doing so is exactly what we need. And on short term we have to finance it. So the EIB Development is a good one.

'SOUNDBITE (English), Pedro MARQUES (S&amp;D, PT), - A safer Europe will be a Europe that projects its strength in the world to promote peace, not war, to promote development, not inequalities. A safer Europe will be able to be more relevant in its own defence. Saying yes to NATO's saying yes to its neighbours. But it has to be a Europe based on solidarity and knowing that, as always, an eye for an eye will only turn this world into blindness.

SOUNDBITE (French), Valérie HAYER (Renew, FR), <p>Who better than Europe to protect Europe? Honourable members, it is time for action. We need to put an end to unanimity when it comes to European foreign policy. Today, one single government even wanting to talk to a foreign power, can undermine the damages of all. We need to also consider new initiatives, for example, setting up European military academies. Our armies need to be fully interoperable, operable. We also need to look at fresh forms of financing for our protection. We need a true single defence market to protect ourselves.</p>

'SOUNDBITE (English), Terry REINTKE (Greens/EFA, DE) - The figures show that cooperation in defence policy is more the exclusion, more the exception to the rule, and that something that urgently needs to change. For years we haven't achieved the objectives that we have set with regard to joint procurement, with regard to common research and defence, common research and development within the EU. That's not only a strategic error, it's also a very inefficient use of taxpayers money and that needs to change as well. Not in 15 years now for our security for Ukraine. There's no better gift for Putin than a divided, nationally isolated security policy.