European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen believes that the 800 billion euro defense package she has proposed could turn the European Union (EU) into a “defense union.”
“This week brought unanimous support (during the EU leaders’ summit on defense on Thursday) for the ‘Rearm Europe’ program. You are familiar with the 800 billion euro defense package; this is a historic matter. This could be the foundation of a European defense union,” von der Leyen said at a press conference marking 100 days of her second term.
She emphasized that the action of rearming Europe will be launched “with full force.”
Von der Leyen added that the EU should “join forces with other like-minded countries” such as the United Kingdom (UK), Norway, and Canada to “unleash its full potential against concrete threats.”
She stated that the European Commission has no role in nuclear deterrence in Europe, as it is a national prerogative, and that this will remain the case.
“Nuclear deterrence is and always will be purely a national prerogative, so the Commission has no comment on that,” von der Leyen said.
French President Emmanuel Macron initiated a discussion lastweek on the potential role of the European Commission in this context.
Von der Leyen noted that the EU remains committed to the complete cessation of Russian gas procurement.
