Open Letter: Why Defence Must Be European
Europe Day this weekend was meant to celebrate the strength of the European peace project. But reality paints a different picture: Europe is backed into a corner. Russia bombs Ukrainian families every day. The US has shifted from a reliable ally to an unpredictable partner – and in some cases, even an adversary. Meanwhile, Europe’s 27 national armies resemble a patchwork quilt. They are poorly equipped, understaffed, and incompatible with one another. In an era of hard power politics, Europe appears weak and paralysed on the world stage.
Yet there is both an opportunity and a mandate to change this: Two-thirds of Europeans want the EU to be able to defend itself independently of the US. This demand must be turned into action. That’s why, together with 30 colleagues from across political groups, I have signed an open letter making one thing clear: Europe must be able to fight in order not to have to fight. Only through deterrence can we secure peace today.
We need a European Defence Union – with joint decision-making, unified command, strategic capabilities, and a rapid reaction force. Such a union would not duplicate NATO but strengthen it with a robust European pillar – one that can also act independently if necessary.
A strong Europe also requires joint procurement. We could save €100 billion per year if Europe’s armies purchased equipment together. This would allow us to fund innovation, ensure the compatibility of weapons systems, and achieve independence faster. Yet instead, member states continue to block progress in order to protect their national defence industries. National egoism is weakening Europe.
Currently, only 1.1% of the EU’s total budget goes towards defence. This must – and will – change. Defence spending in member states is already rising. But more money must also mean more transparency. The rapid increase in security and defence expenditure urgently requires stronger audit rights for the Court of Auditors, the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), and the European Public Prosecutor’s Office. When Member States block access to classified projects, this cannot be an excuse for loopholes. We need clear solutions to prevent the misuse of taxpayers’ money.