Latest news with #EuropeanDefence
The Guardian
22-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Germany bolsters anti-Russian defence on Nato eastern flank
The Germany chancellor has visited Lithuania to mark Berlin's first permanent foreign troop deployment since the second world war, as he called on allies to dramatically expand their efforts to bolster European defences against a hostile Russia. As a crowd waved Lithuanian, German and Ukrainian flags, Friedrich Merz and his defence minister, Boris Pistorius, attended a ceremony launching the official formation of an armoured brigade aimed at protecting Nato's eastern flank. The new heavy combat unit, the 45th tank brigade, will be comprised of 4,800 German soldiers and 200 civilian staff. It was announced in response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and is scheduled to reach full operational capacity by 2027. Merz said: 'Together with our partners, we are determined to defend the alliance territory against any aggression. The security of our Baltic allies is also our security.' The deployment, unprecedented for the Bundeswehr, is aimed at shoring up the defence of Lithuania and fellow Baltic republics Estonia and Latvia, former Soviet states that have become Nato and EU members and which fear a Russian attack. At a news conference in Vilnius with Lithuania's president, Gitanas Nausėda, Merz said 'Russia's aggressive revisionism' seeking to redraw the European map created grave security risks for the entire continent, not just Ukraine. Merz, the first chancellor to have himself served in the Bundeswehr, said: 'We stand firmly by Ukraine but we also stand together as Europeans as a whole and we play, whenever possible, as a team with the US.' In the build-up to a Nato summit next month in The Hague, Merz said the alliance must 'sustainably strengthen European defence capabilities and our defence industry must expand its capabilities – it has to produce more for Europe and produce more in Europe'. Nausėda thanked Merz for Germany's show of support with the new combat unit formed at the request of Lithuania, which with its 2.9 million inhabitants borders Russia's Kaliningrad exclave and Moscow-allied Belarus. He said: 'We understand the threat and believe that we can face up to the threat with our allies,' noting that Lithuania planned to reach a new Nato goal of spending 5% of gross domestic product on defence by next year. Merz said Germany, as Europe's biggest economy, would reach the same benchmark by 2032 based on a calculation of 3.5% of GDP for military procurement and 1.5% for infrastructure of military relevance including roads, bridges and ports. Merz's muscular rhetoric has been welcomed by European partners as a continuation and expansion of the Zeitenwende (turning point) in defence policy set out by his predecessor Olaf Scholz. While Scholz's centre-left-led government created a €100bn (£84bn) special fund to buy defence equipment and eventually met a Nato commitment of defence spending of 2% of GDP, Merz has moved to release the constitutional debt brake to allow far more military investment. In his first significant speech to parliament last week, Merz vowed after years of neglect to build up Europe's 'strongest conventional army'. Germany has no nuclear weapons of its own. The German chancellor said: 'This is appropriate for Europe's most populous and economically powerful country. Our friends and partners also expect this from us. Indeed, they practically demand it.' Sign up to Headlines US Get the most important US headlines and highlights emailed direct to you every morning after newsletter promotion Pistorius, who was also defence minister under Scholz, pledged when the new government took over this month that Germany would be 'ready to defend every square inch of Nato territory' and called the Lithuania brigade 'a clear signal to any potential adversary'. Donald Trump has strong-armed fellow Nato members to boost military spending, often singling out Germany in his accusations of European 'freeloading' at Washington's expense. The US president has also troubled European allies with conflicting messages on his stance toward Ukraine's defence, while raising fears about the US commitment to Nato's mutual defence clause. Asked about reports Trump could order a draw-down from the continent, Merz said on Thursday he had 'no indication that the US would withdraw troops from Europe'. The commitment to Baltic security has posed several challenges for Germany, including finding enough personnel willing to serve there. In January, the Bundestag passed legislation to make the prospect more attractive, including more flexible working hours and increased allowances and overtime pay. Before Merz's visit, Lithuania's defence minister, Dovilė Šakalienė, told Germany's Frankfurter Allgemeine newspaper how crucial plausible deterrence toward Russia was, sharing Pistorius's assessment that Russia could be in a position to attack a Nato state within five years. She said: 'Every Lithuanian knows: if the Russians come, no one will be spared.'
Euronews
17-03-2025
- Business
- Euronews
Defence White Paper, Newsletter
Wednesday 19 March – Commission presents Communication on a Savings and Investments Union. Wednesday 19 March – Commission presents White Paper on the future of European Defence . Thursday 20 & Friday 21 March – Ukraine, defence and competitiveness under debate during EU Council Summit in Brussels. Hope you had a good rest this weekend — and a coffee this morning, because Brussels isn't giving anyone a break this week. On the five-day menu: more discussions on defence, funding, and (again!) competitiveness. The key date? Wednesday, when the European Commission unveils its long-awaited White Paper on the Future of European Defence, along with a closely linked communication on the Savings and Investments Union. The defence paper will outline ways to boost production and readiness, while the investment plan is "indispensable" to von der Leyen's 'Rearm Europe' initiative. "We need to ensure that the billions of savings from Europeans are invested in markets inside the EU," the Commission president wrote to member states earlier this month. Capital isn't lacking: European households save €1.4 trillion annually compared to €800 billion in the US — yet €300 billion of those European savings flow into non-EU markets each year. The Savings and Investments Union aims to improve the channelling of these savings into productive investments, unlocking the full potential of the bloc's capital markets. According to a draft seen by Euronews, the plan targets areas such as encouraging retail investor participation, growing the supplementary pension sector, promoting equity and venture capital investment, and enhancing market integration across the EU. As for defence, the white paper will urge member states to spend more, spend better, and spend European. The latest draft seen by Euronews outlines five strategic priorities: securing critical industrial inputs and reducing dependencies, promoting defence skills and expertise, strengthening industrial capacities across the EU, cutting red tape, and removing barriers to the circulation of defence products. Then on Thursday — and likely Friday — EU leaders will gather in Brussels to hash out these proposals, set priorities for the next long-term budget (2028-34), and tackle competitiveness, which tops the agenda. Buckle up. It's going to be a busy week. Elbowed aside? Defence continues to dominate discussion across the bloc and within its various institutions. The proposal for a Rearm Europe plan, presented by President Ursula von der Leyen, raised concerns among MEPs who feel sidelined by the executive's plans. Manfred Weber, the German leader of the EPP, criticised Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for bypassing the European Parliament in shaping the defence initiative, arguing that excluding MEPs undermines democratic accountability. The new financial instrument, worth €150 billion in loans, was presented directly to the Council, with the justification that the emergency situation warrants proceeding without consulting Parliament.
Euronews
10-02-2025
- Business
- Euronews
Five ideas for reshaping Europe's future defence sector
The European Union is preparing for a worst-case military scenario—a Russian attack on one of its 27 member states. EU Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius is set to present a "White Paper on European Defence" by 19 March, outlining measures to prepare the EU for both immediate military contingencies and long-term security challenges on the global stage. However, an uptick of rhetoric and action, the bloc remains far from achieving what Kubilius has described as a "big bang" approach to defence. "Business as usual in defence is simply not possible anymore," Daniel Fiott, a professor at the Centre for Security, Diplomacy and Strategy (VUB) in Brussels, told Euronews. Fiott stressed that the white paper must clearly define how Europe should respond if the US drastically reduces its support for Ukraine and European security, along with the funding needed across key defence capability areas. Industry Output Plan: What does Europe need, in what quantity, and by when? Competitiveness is a critical challenge for the European defence industry, MEP Riho Terras (Estonia/EPP), vice-chairman of the Parliament's security and defence committee, told Euronews. "It is too fragmented, internal market rules do not apply to the defence industry, and the banking sector does not lend money to defence industries," he argued, emphasizing that the Commission must address these shortcomings within its mandate. To tackle this, industry leaders are calling for an industrial output plan that translates member states' capability needs into concrete defence industry targets, specifying quantities and timelines. Industry representatives urge governments to indicate which capabilities require scaling, by how much, and by when, both in peacetime and wartime. In a non-paper, they stress the need for long-term procurement and investment commitments, enabling economies of scale and attracting private sector funding. Get creative to fund the (at least) €500bn defence bill Mario Draghi's competitiveness report estimates the EU will need approximately €500 billion over the next decade to remain competitive in global defence—yet member states' constrained defence budgets remain the primary funding source. So, where will the money come from? "2% of GDP is history. We need to establish a new threshold—3% GDP minimum—and the EU should declare it too," Terras said, referring to NATO's 2% defence spending target, which 23 of the 27 EU member states adhere to. Commissioner Andrius Kubilius has proposed allocating at least €100 billion for defence investment in the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), spanning 2028-2034. From 2021-2027, only €15 billion (1.2% of the MFF) was dedicated to security and defence. "Europe has proven we can mobilize resources when needed—€700 billion for COVID recovery. The Russian threat is far more existential for Europe than the pandemic ever was," Kubilius said. To bridge the investment gap, he suggested issuing "defence bonds", akin to the COVID-19 recovery instruments, and reallocating unused funds. Two additional options surfaced at an informal EU leaders' meeting in Brussels: revising European Investment Bank (EIB) lending rules and simplifying EU procurement regulations. Poland's foreign affairs minister has also said the EU should explore the idea of establishing a "rearmament bank" to raise the money it needs to ramp up its defence capabilities. Increase standardisation and interoperability between member states' armed forces "We do not need a European army. We need 27 European armies that are capable and can work effectively together to deter our rivals and defend Europe, preferably with allies, but alone if needed," Kaja Kallas told the European Defence Agency Annual Conference in January. Europe's defence industry remains fragmented and nationally focused, missing opportunities for standardisation, joint procurement, and resource pooling. The EU aims to ensure at least 35% of defence procurement is conducted jointly by 2030—up from just 18% in 2022. "We need more standardisation and joint procurement. The main challenge is overcoming national industry mentalities and making a collective effort to address capability gaps," MEP Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (Germany/Renew Europe), chair of the Parliament's security and defence committee, told Euronews. Boost research and development Investment in the space sector is expanding much faster in the US than in Europe, the head of the European Space Agency (ESA) told Euronews. "Europe needs to catch up with strong public investment to maintain global competitiveness and safeguard our leadership in key domains," he argued. In 2023, EU member states allocated around €11 billion for defence R&D, with nearly €4 billion designated for defence technology investment. The European Defence Fund (EDF) was also established, with an €8 billion budget for 2021-2027, including €2.7 billion for collaborative defence research. "The next step in supporting research and innovation is breaking down single-market barriers and encouraging novel financing sources for R&D," Fiott noted, highlighting costly regulatory and administrative obstacles to cross-border defence innovation. "Banks and funds remain hesitant to invest in defence, yet R&D in dual-use technologies offers broad societal benefits," he added. Create closer links with the space sector The space and defence industries face similar challenges, so solutions should be developed jointly, Kubilius told the 17th Space Conference in Brussels. "We must use space to defend our countries, societies, and people—with intelligence, geolocation, and communication for our armed forces," the Space and Defence Commissioner told the audience. "I want to establish a dialogue with Member States and space commands to explore options for a European space domain awareness system to monitor threats, including military threats," the Lithuanian Commissioner said. Battlefield experience in Ukraine has demonstrated that intelligence from space is crucial for modern military defence. Consequently, the EU is strengthening its intelligence structures and capabilities. Kubilius also emphasised the implementation of the EU Space Strategy for Security and Defence, the EU Space Industrial Strategy, the European Space Shield, and IRIS2, while underscoring the need for a long-term vision for European launch capabilities. "Europe has built a unique presence in space that serves all humanity. We must defend it from any aggressor," he declared.
Associated Press
29-01-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
European Defence Industries Directory 2025
The 'European Directory of Defence Industries 2025" has been added to offering. The European Directoryof Defence Industries is the most comprehensive and accurate database of companies and executives throughout Europe and those senior defence officials that oversee the purchasing of everything from vehicles, communications equipment, and clothing, to electronics, parts and ordnance. Assisting defence contractors to identify new opportunities throughout this region, this Directory covers thousands of companies providing invaluable comprehensive business information on these companies and their leaders in this industry. Additionally, the Directory lets you contact those senior officials responsible for defence procurement - from the executive leadership and military and civilian defence and national security agencies down through the service branches. The Directory also gives you names, ranks, areas of responsibility, and contact information. Company entries in this Directory typically provide the following: Name and address Phone, fax numbers, email and website addresses Names of senior management and board members Description of business activities Products and services Brand names and trademarks Subsidiaries and associates Number of employees Financial information Import/export markets Government Defence entries in this Directory typically provide: Contact details for procurement military officers and defence officials including name, rank, title, email, website, addresses, and phone and fax nos. Procurement and logistics officials Intelligence and national police officials Senior officers in the tactical army, air force, and navy commands. and much more! The European Defence Industries Directory has been mainly compiled to assist professionals with market research, strategic planning, as well as contacting prospective clients. It is also an indispensable guide to all of Europe's defence industries, key corporate executives and defence, and law enforcement officials responsible for procurement. This powerful Directory is your connection to key decision-makers in Defence throughout Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom. Whether you are a product manager, in charge of marketing, or simply interested in remaining in touch with the latest developments in European Defence opportunities, this Directory will save you time and effort in finding the up-to-date business information and opportunities that you need. This directory is indexed in ways to make searching quick and easy. Indexes are listed alphabetically by country, alphabetically by company name and by business activity. is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager [email protected] E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 KEYWORD: EUROPE INDUSTRY KEYWORD: OTHER DEFENSE DEFENSE Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 01/29/2025 02:19 PM/DISC: 01/29/2025 02:20 PM
