Von der Leyen Urges Increased EU Defense Spending

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, has called for a significant increase in the European Union's defense spending to counter Russia's military aggression, which currently allocates up to 9% of its GDP to defense compared to the EU's mere 1.9%. In her address to the European Parliament, she emphasized the urgency of the situation due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, stating, 'We have no time to waste, and we must be as ambitious as the threats are serious.' Von der Leyen advocates for the strengthening of the defense industry and collaboration on joint European defense projects. She also reaffirmed the EU's commitment to supporting Ukraine and expressed a desire for Ukraine to eventually join the EU. The upcoming vote on her new commission will be pivotal for advancing these defense initiatives and improving economic competitiveness within the EU. Von der Leyen's leadership seeks to unite pro-European forces while avoiding reliance on far-right votes.