EU plans to create new structure responsible for defense and space
The European Union will create a new defense and space structure to help member countries finance, develop and deploy armed forces, said Ursula von der Leyen, President-elect of the European Commission.
Germany's Ursula von der Leyen, the future president of the European Commission who will take office on 1 November, announced Tuesday (10 September) the intention to create a special structure responsible for defense and space.
"The European Union will never be a military alliance," von der Leyen said at a press conference.
"But the EU Member States have been informed several times … that joint procurement of their armed forces is a matter of utmost importance," she added.
The former German Defense Minister also said that these projects would benefit NATO, which includes many EU member states. "NATO will always be (our) collective defense," she reassured.
Although Mrs von der Leyen has given little details, the new defense arm will be based, reports Reuters, on permanent structured cooperation (PESCO), signed in late 2017, to finance and produce new equipment and thus mark the Member States as a result of the UK's decision to leave the EU.
Appointed Tuesday Internal Market Commissioner, it is the French Sylvie Goulard who will be responsible for the new Directorate-General for the defense and space industry which will manage the 13 billion European Defense Fund and the budget intended for space policy.
MTCHT
ICT
TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS
POST
ABOUT US
NEWS
INTERESTING
INTERVIEW
ANALYSIS
ONLAIN LESSONS
