EU to boost defence industrial production by 2035
The European Union is preparing to increase defence industrial production by 2035, enabling it to make as much as half of its defence system purchases within the bloc, TASS reports
According to Bloomberg, citing a document in its possession, the EU noted that, “The geopolitical developments point to a compelling need for Europe to take increased responsibility for its own security and to get ready to effectively address the full spectrum of the threats it faces. The EU is and must continue to become a stronger actor in security and defence, thus a more capable security provider not only for its own citizens but also to the benefit of international peace and security.”
It is reported that the EU’s defence strategy will rely on four major points: minimum purchases of defence equipment from non-EU suppliers; mechanisms for immediate ramp-up of the supplies from third countries in case of shortages; boosting industry access to finance and EU funding programmes while creating new defence and security partnerships; and identifying flagship projects on which to focus efforts and resources.
According to Bloomberg, the Ukrainian crisis has shown the limitations of EU industry and its dependence on other countries for key supplies and defence capabilities.
