Latest news with #Kubilius
Euractiv
a day ago
- Business
- Euractiv
Twenty want a slice of €100bn in EU arms loans, defence commissioner says
The majority of EU countries are requesting loans for military procurement from the EU's SAFE arms financing programme, the bloc's Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius told Euractiv on Thursday. The SAFE lending mechanism, approved earlier this spring, is aimed at funding military purchases for EU countries, Norway and Ukraine included in the programme, and others – such as potentially the United Kingdom – mulling over whether to join as well. "According to our informal evaluation, around of 20 member states will take loans – and that can be [a] very conservative evaluation," the Lithuanian commissioner said, adding it "could be for around €100 billion, but it can be even more." Speaking with Euractiv just days before Tuesday's first deadline to express interest in the €150 billion pot under the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) programme, Kubilius said there is "big appetite" for the fund. However, Kubilius did to specify which specific countries have put in requests, or divulge just how much each capital is hoping to borrow. It is understood that Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech ia , Estonia, France, Ireland, Lithuan ia, Po land and Romania all are requesting funding . According to national sources, Austria, Finland, Slovakia remain unsure, while Germany and Sweden are expected to join broader procurement deals but not request the loans. EU countries have until next week to signal their interest for the plan and say how much money they want to borrow via the EU, and then will have until November to decide on what to purchase with that cash. In a letter from Kubilius to the EU countries seen by Euractiv, Kubilius called on the countries to use the money for joint purchases, even though they are allowed to go solo.i The Commission is also open to EU countries joining the programme at a later stage even if they miss the upcoming deadline. (bts, jp)
Euronews
a day ago
- Business
- Euronews
EU Commission's defence loan scheme tapped by 20 member states
Twenty member states have flagged their interest in using loans issued by the European Commission to fund defence projects for an estimated total of over €100 billion, Andrius Kubilius revealed on Thursday. The Commissioner for Defence and Space said on X that he is "impressed to hear that already 20 member states will request the loans". "More than €100 billion will be requested to ramp up European defence," he added. The Commission's loan programme, dubbed SAFE, is a key plank of the 'Readiness 2030' proposal that aims to see hundreds of billions of euros invested into defence across the EU before the end of the decade. The EU's executive, which has a better credit rating than many member states, had planned to raise up to €150 billion on the markets through the scheme for member states to finance defence acquisitions together. Member states have until 29 July to officially put in a request for financing. The first disbursements are expected early next year. Kubilius did not mention which member states have already notified the Commission of their intention to make use of the scheme, but several had already publicly made their interest known, like Latvia. An additional advantage of using SAFE is that member states will not have to pay Value Added Tax (VAT) on the purchases. This is a developing story. Check back later for updates.
Newsweek
6 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
What Would a 'Drone Wall' to Shield Europe's Borders Look Like?
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. It is still an "unanswered question" whether countries running along NATO's eastern flank are prepared to defend against drone attacks, the European Commission's defense and space chief has said. Lithuania, a Baltic state staring down Russia, should construct a "drone wall" with its neighbors, former Lithuanian Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius told the country's LRT broadcaster. "It's not just about producing or stockpiling drones today," Kubilius said. "We need trained teams ready to rapidly manufacture the necessary number of drones at a moment's notice, tailored to the needs of a drone wall." Russia's war on Ukraine has changed the drone game, making skillful wielding of uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) an absolute must for modern armed forces. On the front lines in Ukraine, drones are being tweaked and upgraded every few weeks. As drones rapidly evolve, so too must the defenses designed to shield against the threat UAVs, as well as drones in the water or crossing on land, can pose. An instructor launches a drone during a training course for members of the Russian Navy's Pacific Fleet's assault units in Primorsky Krai, Russia, on July 15, 2025. An instructor launches a drone during a training course for members of the Russian Navy's Pacific Fleet's assault units in Primorsky Krai, Russia, on July 15, 2025. Vitaliy Ankov / Sputnik via AP A drone crossed into Lithuanian airspace from Belarus, a key Russian ally, on July 10. The drone crashed close to the border as senior officials headed for shelters, domestic media reported. "This incident shows that the possibility of a drone entering Lithuanian territory is real," Kubilius said. Vilnius lodged a "strong protest" with Minsk, according to local reports. "Our message is that this is serious," said Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys. The concept of a "drone wall" isn't new, but its exact form along the eastern flank of NATO remains unclear. Lithuania's then-Interior Minister, Agnė Bilotaitė, said in May 2024 that a "drone border" would be established, stretching from Norway to Poland. The drones will add to physical barriers and surveillance systems to "allow us to also protect ourselves from provocations by unfriendly countries," Bilotaitė said at the time. The "wall" will also employ counter-drone technology, regional media reported at the time. It would essentially focus on ensuring that an enemy like Russia cannot operate effectively in a specific area, known as the "kill box" or "killing area," Ed Arnold, a senior research fellow in European security at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) think tank, told Newsweek. Drones could be placed on the border, including in concealed spots, while mixed in with artillery, Arnold said. Ukraine's Defense Ministry said earlier this year that President Volodymyr Zelensky had launched a "large-scale project" known as the "drone line," designed to carve out a "kill zone" of up to 15 kilometers. The "drone line" would be built using UAVs, electronic warfare systems, different types of vehicles and other equipment, Kyiv said. Several initiatives are underway to bolster NATO defenses in the east. The three Baltic States of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia signed an agreement in January 2024 to beef up protection along their land borders with Russia and Belarus, known as the Baltic Defense Line. Poland has its own program, dubbed East Shield. Anti-tank defenses, like mines and concrete blocks known as dragon's teeth, also occupy NATO territory close to Russian soil. Earlier this year, the European Commission rejected funding for the drone wall. Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas said that the country would need to build up the capability on a national level. "Europe is large, interests differ, and sometimes what is a sore point and crucial for us is not so much for Europe," Paluckas said, according to Lithuanian media.
Euronews
08-07-2025
- Business
- Euronews
Can the EU jet itself into the space race?
The global space economy was valued at €572 billion in 2023, according to the European Space Agency, and it is estimated to reach €1.6 trillion in a decade. The main focus of the new EU Space Act is launchers and satellites, which are increasingly important for activities as diverse as communications, navigation, meteorology and renewable energy. However, Europe lags far behind the US and has spent just €12 billion in public funding on the space industry, compared with €65 billion in the US. The same applies to private investment: €980 million in the EU, compared with €3.6 billion in the US. This will be a hot topic during negotiations for the future European Competitiveness Fund, within the scope of the 2028-2034 EU budget, which covers the space sector which will be looking for more money on the table. "Now the whole allocation for space is around €17 billion. We know that we need more just to keep using the existing systems," European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius told Euronews. "We want also to simplify life for those who are engaging in the space industry and be ready for the revolution that is coming," Kubilius added in an interview. Security and defence in space The Space Act will create a common set of rules across the EU, with the main pillars being security and resilience, to minimise the risk of collisions, cyber-attacks and other interference from hostile powers. The 'rules of the road' will seek to bring order to the 11,000 satellites already deployed and the 50,000 new satellites planned for the next decade, as well as the 128 million pieces of space debris floating in orbit around Earth. "Space is seen as the new frontier, a contested zone, where cyber attacks or electronic interference against satellites or ground stations, for example, can occur. This could lead to the loss of satellites or the services they provide, so there will be new rules for risk assessment," explained Gregoire Lory, who covers space policy for Euronews. The new law does not apply to military uses, but a European Space Strategy for Security and Defence has existed since 2023, presented not long after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The goal is to devise how to protect space systems, their supporting ground infrastructure and the data connections between them, including through joint space exercises. "We have several very good satellite systems like Galileo (and) Copernicus. And now we are building IRIS2 for secure satellite communication. In order to service those systems in space, we need to have a good transport system, which Ariane 6 is doing. But when we're looking into what is coming, we understand that it is not enough. We need to build new capacities," admitted Commissioner Kubilius. Watch the video here! Journalist: Isabel Marques da Silva Content production: Pilar Montero López Video production: Zacharia Vigneron Graphism: Loredana Dumitru Editorial coordination: Ana Lázaro Bosch and Jeremy Fleming-Jones
Euronews
02-07-2025
- Business
- Euronews
EU Commissioner calls for more of long-term budget for space projects
The EU's next long-term budget (2028–34), currently set at €1.2 trillion, should dedicate more funding to space projects to reduce reliance on the US and bolster the bloc's strategic autonomy, EU Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius told Euronews' EU Decoded program. 'We know the needs, and the needs are much bigger than what we have now in this Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF 2021–27),' Kubilius said, adding that simply maintaining existing systems will require investing more than the current €17 billion allocated to space. The former Lithuanian Prime Minister argued that Europe remains 'quite heavily reliant' on key strategic services from the US, and that the continent urgently needs to develop more of its own space intelligence data systems. The EU is currently developing the IRIS² project, an €11 billion initiative aiming to create a secure, multi-orbital satellite network for EU governments and businesses — but new projects are also expected to be launched under the funding of the next MFF. 'We're building our own capacities, and that will cost, so that money should be included in the next MFF,' Kubilius said. 'If we do not allocate enough funding and fail to start developing these projects, by 2035 we may find ourselves in a very unattractive situation,' the Commissioner warned. In recent years, Europe has lost its leading position in the commercial launcher market (Ariane 4–5) and geostationary satellites — even forcing the EU to temporarily rely on US SpaceX rockets to launch its own satellites. According to Mario Draghi's report on competitiveness, the EU has also fallen behind in space activities and suffered major supply chain disruptions. As a result, the industry has become less profitable, with lower sales and increased dependence on components such as semiconductors and detectors. Earlier this year, Kubilius laid out the EU's roadmap to remain a space power: continue developing flagship programs, launch an EU space industrial strategy to foster innovation and competitiveness, ensure autonomous access to space, strengthen ties between defence and space, and boost investment. The Commissioner has already delivered the EU Space Act, aimed at creating a true single market for space activities and data. But whether he succeeds in securing more space funding in the next MFF to fulfill the rest of his agenda remains to be seen. On 16 July, the European Commission is expected to present the first package of its post-2027 long-term budget, when the battle for funds between old and recent EU priorities will begin.
