Spain proposes to finance the defense of EU countries with European funds | Spain

Spain considers that security is a « European public good. » That is, none of the EU member states can guarantee their security alone and, consequently, it is necessary to work in a concerted way in the community framework, but also in that of NATO and in alliances with the related countries, to ensure it. That is the basis of the Spanish vision about The future of Europe's defense, that the Spanish government has sent the president of the European Commission on Monday, Ursula von der Leyen. The contribution of Spain, together with those of the other EU partners, must serve for the elaboration of the white paper that Von der Leyen has pledged to present on March 19 and that will have to be approved by the heads of state and government of the EU at the June Summit.

The logical consequence of considering security as a « European public good » is that of Community your financing. The Spanish government, according to its Non Paper (As this type of documents are diplomatically called), it considers that « the priority must be that the next multiannual financial framework (of the EU) has sufficient funds to finance security and other priorities within the future competitiveness fund that the commission plans. »

The bulk of the economic effort to raise European spending in defense would thus be paid with the new Multiannual financial framework, that will enter into force in 2028, when the current one concludes, which covers the period 2021-2027. This is the EU budget instrument, which is paid with the contributions of the countries and the issuance of common debt. Faced with the resistances of other partners to communize defense spending, the Spanish government is committed to this formula, although it does « without ruling out other short -term options, » the document points out.

The new White Book of European Defense is marked by the Ukraine War and the turn of the United States position after the arrival of Donald Trump to the White House. The president of the European Council, António Costa, has convened an extraordinary summit of the twenty -seven for next Thursday in Brussels with the aim of “making the first short -term decisions” in the situation that has been created in Europe. Although the call was made before the monumental anger that Trump and his vice president, JD Vance, threw the President Ukraine, Volodimir Zelenski, It will be marked by this unprecedented clash.

In its contribution to the debate, Spain emphasizes that « Russia's aggression against Ukraine is an existential threat and is closely linked to European security »; so that support for kyiv is not for the EU a matter of solidarity but survival.

The Spanish government starts from the analysis of the threat set included in the strategic compass, which was developed under the direction of the previous high representative for foreign policy, the Spanish Josep Borrell, and is committed to « a complete vision of security » with « a 360º approach. » Faced with those who focus exclusively on the threat of the East, which is Russian neo -imperialism, Madrid claims a geographical approach that also « integrates the southern neighborhood » of Europe; and thematic, that takes into account not only military factors, but other aspects of security such as « resilience, response to climatic crises or critical reinforcement of transport and also energy infrastructure. »

Finally, the Spanish proposal advocates “reinforcing the European Defense Industrial Base”, which goes through the fragmentation of the sector and betting on economies of scale. Of course, the creation of a European defense industry must be carried out, the document warns, « preserved that it is for the benefit of all EU member states » and looking for a « regional balance », so that there is no concentration of the military industry in the countries with more powerful companies to the detriment of the others. To reinforce « the competitiveness and strategic autonomy of Europe », the Spanish government finally proposes the « creation of joint platforms and promotion of innovation in which SMEs are also inserted »; What adapts more to the predominant model in the Spanish military industry.