MEPs Push EU to Prioritize Defense Funding Amid Growing Security Needs

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala has emphasized the need for Europe to reconsider its budget priorities, urging the allocation of funds towards defense and security rather than non-essential projects. He advocated for increasing national defense spending to at least 3% of GDP and suggested leveraging frozen Russian assets to bolster military support for Ukraine. Fiala argued that the EU should adopt a similar approach to defense funding as it did for pandemic and climate initiatives, indicating that adjustments to current resource allocations could suffice without increasing the overall budget. He highlighted a consensus among EU member states on the urgency of enhancing defense investments in light of shifting geopolitical landscapes. Additionally, Bulgarian MEPs from the EPP group called for the EU budget to be adapted to better reflect common defense needs, proposing that industrial policies be subordinated to security requirements. Their initiative aims to stimulate discussions on financing European security amidst the ongoing crisis caused by Russian aggression in Ukraine.