Historical or utopian book about the EU defense?

In addition, $ 800 billion.

« The EU’s defense needs a » big bang « , we no longer can achieve what we need on the road by step by step, » said A. Kubilius, who is responsible for defense and space, presenting the White Book on Defense issues in the Seimas.

After confirming it last week, it called it a historically significant day, as the EU first makes such big decisions in the field of defense. In the Seimas, he reiterated that Europe had to move responsibility for its defense on its shoulders, especially as the US priorities change.

« 450 million Europeans should not be angry or angry that 340 million Americans, with their agenda and their challenges, will not always be able to help us defend our 140 million Russian population, which cannot overcome 28 million people with 28 million inhabitants over three years, » the Eurok Commissioner said.

Today, however, the situation is such that Russia produces more weapons in three months than all NATO countries, including the US, a year. According to A. Kubilius, intelligence warnings that Russia may not only be prepared, but also seem to be planning or planning to check the validity of Article 5 of the NATO at the moment by 2030, very clearly how we need to respond to such challenges and our security or defense crisis.

According to A. Kubilius, the EC has already prepared readiness until 2030. strategy. The White Book contains guidelines that are part of the Rearm Europe plan published in early March. The plan aims to strengthen the defense capabilities of Europe throughout Europe by new financial instruments, with a new attitude towards defense and investment needs in the White Book. The EU has a concentration of about $ 800 billion in four years. additional euros for European defense, as well as military support for Ukraine. $ 150 billion This amount would be a preferential loan. It is planned to allow EU members of 1.5 percent. GDP issued for defense not to be counted in a deficit.

He mentioned Lithuania as a good example and advised us to take advantage of the proposed new measures for additional defense funding.

The White Book also provides for strengthening the capacity of strategic enablers – such as space intelligence data, heavy cargo aviation transportation, refueling in the air and other important things to the military. It is planned to develop the defense projects that include the European interests – such as the air defense panel, cyber defense shield, space defense panel.

The Commissioner received many issues of Lithuanian parliamentarians. Wouldn’t it be possible to a loan for countries for which the borrowing burden would be too high are granted as non -refundable or partially repaid grants, and the exception to the states of the Papfron? How to encourage major countries whose debts are so high, to use the exception to borrow, because their contribution to security in terms of the percentage of GDP rather than the sums of specific amounts is not comparable to smaller countries? The question of what is planned to be uniform in the standards of weaponry, strengthening the civilian defense of the population due to the European StarLink equivalent. Members of the Seimas were considering whether the projects proposed by the EC still have ambition.

Artūras Skardžius, a member of the Nemunas Dawn Group, who stated that the Loan Sizes offered by the EC was disappointed, he suggested that A. Kubilis: « If you are unsuccessful in defense, then maybe you are doing very little attention.

« We will not go to traditional Lithuanian interpretations, » replied A. Kubilius and reiterated that the EU did not have money itself, all the amount of EU countries.

P. Auštrevičius is a little puzzling that there is no very ambitious commitment to the EU Defense Union in the White Book, but only common EU actions and obligations can achieve the goals pursued. / S. Lisauskas / Photo by BNS

The US is very important

However, the aim of the EC documents called the EU’s proposals for EU actions in a particular field is to start discussing with political consensus. Will it not be left only by the work of the Utopian genre?

According to Giedrimas Jeglinskas, Chairman of the Seimas Committee on National Security and Defense (NSGK), the document presented by A. Kubilius is very much needed, it clearly demonstrates the sharpness of the situation, and the critical matters are mentioned in Europe. Yes, everyone understands that it requires military industry, investment in transformation technology, as it is the future of warfare.

« However, not in the power of A. Kubilius, the parties will put money on the table at once. 800 billion euros – is indeed a great slogan. We have no billions, and they need them now, ”emphasizes G. Jeglinskas.

According to him, the document prepared by A. Kubilius says what it takes, everyone agrees with it, but the question of who will take the lead, where that money will come from. Although it is said that Europe has awakened, Mr Jeglinskas says he is not sure: awakening will be when the parties actually start putting money on the table. In his opinion, the fact that the defense expenditure is relaxed with fiscal bolts can now help, but these are minimal things, and in the long run we have to go towards a more united capital market.

« If parties do not want to put money on the table, invest and take responsibility, I am not sure that the EU can, because we can see how sometimes every little ones are screaming. European disagreements are needed now.

According to him, one of the most potential EC offers is $ 150 billion. which the EU would borrow. But, he said, the question is when, how much, at what price. It is said that we will borrow in capital markets. Germany announced it to borrow, to be $ 500 billion. € for defense. G. Jeglinskas points out that such demand changes supply conditions and price. Lithuania will also have to borrow to achieve defense 5 percent. GDP.

EU, the EC should acquire additional functions to coordinate military planning. If the EU is intended to strengthen the EU industry and defense capabilities, the EU must not only fund but also plan together.

« There are many side effects. Opening the opportunity to borrow defense is needed, but the parties need to fund defense from their own budgets and not to lose contact with the US, as the alternative to the power and capacity of the US is not yet, » says Jeglinskas.

Missing ambition

Discussions on the defense of the White Book are also held in European institutions. However, is the White Book on defense issues, as was evaluated by A. Kubilius, a historical event or a utopian essay?

The assessment of Petras Auštrevičius, a member of the European Parliament (EP) as follows: “As far as EU policy shifts in the field of security and defense may be indeed a historical period. However, in terms of the content of the white book, I have doubts. According to the EU’s general actions and obligations, the goals they seek can be said.

P. Auštrevičius states that the White Book indicates the twelve works that need to be done this year. « If we are able to make them on time and quality, there will be a step towards the EU Defense Union. But looking at European documents there is a reason to worry, » says the MEP, based on the Document of the EC now considered the European defense industry. For example, the EU eastern border states may be first tested by the enemy for geopolitical reasons, but the storage of the necessary stocks is somehow planned not in them but near them. After all, medicines should be at the patient, not in a neighboring house. Or how small and medium -sized enterprises can participate in the defense industry: if we only put everything in the big concern, there will be German, French, maybe Belgian and Dutch companies, and other countries will not have enough competitive. Or suggestion that 65 percent funds must be used for procurement in the EU. This is the EU budget, it would be logical to spend it here. However, we will not be able to do so for the next five years, so according to P. Auštrevičius, maybe 50 percent may start.

Does the White Book have any new ideas for strengthening Europe’s defense? According to the MEP, much has already been heard, but the advantage that everything is in one place, so seeing a more comprehensive picture of what measures can be created by the EU Defense Union. First, we need to produce more and advanced weapons in Europe, and secondly, make common purchases.

Necessity: « Opening the opportunity to borrow defense, but the parties need to fund defense from their own budgets and not to lose contact with the US, as the alternative to US capabilities is not yet available, » says Jeglinskas. / P. Peleckio / Photo by BNS

However, reminds P. Auštrevičius, the variety of existing armaments does not always allow for it. Defense systems, especially in neighboring countries, need to be developed as much as possible. « There will be nothing, it is difficult to imagine very harmonious and effective common public procurement. However, there is no such ambition yet. In my opinion, the EC should acquire additional functions to coordinate military planning. We need to find a way to do it, ”emphasizes P. Auštrevičius.

The EU goes into a new field of politics – defense, but in the current situation, it is inevitable. The European Parliament believes that European ambitions should be super high, even knowing that not everything will be done. It is necessary to raise the bar so that some of the work done means a huge change, as the security situation does not allow the path of evolution to follow.

However, according to P. Auštrevičius, ambitions were missing both the White Book and the Rearm Europe plan. He is also hampered by an additional $ 800 billion from the proposed defense. EUR 650 billion in four years must come from states increased defense budgets and only the remaining amount will be co -borrowed. « This confirms my thesis only about cross -border cooperation, but not the unified EU Defense Union. Are we confident that Member States will begin to increase their defense budget? Some should and double it to achieve such amounts. Nine EU countries are less than 2 % of GDP. Strikes are lacking in other areas, ”says P. Auštrevičius.

He assumes that A. Kubilius himself was much more radical in the best sense of the word, but the White Book is the opinion of the whole EC. The new document will be discussed in the nearest EP session. « What level of ambition will be? Hopefully no less than proposed, maybe even greater than the EC, » says P. Auštrevičius.