"If We Cut Defense Budgets, We Face a 'Security Deficit'"
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, has been urging member states to increase their defense budgets day after day.
In a speech at the European Parliament plenary session held in Strasbourg, France, on the 11th (local time), President von der Leyen said, "Now is the time to build a European Defense Union that guarantees peace on our continent through unity and strength."
She admitted, "After the end of the Cold War, some argued that Russia could be integrated into Europe's economic and security structures. Others hoped to rely indefinitely on the full protection of the United States, so we lowered our guard."
As a result, Europe reduced its defense spending, which had previously averaged more than 3% of GDP, to less than half, and she pointed out, "We thought we were enjoying a 'peace dividend,' but in reality, we were running a 'security deficit.'"
She then emphasized, "The era of illusions is now over."
President von der Leyen stated, "According to all analyses, we need to spend more than 3% of GDP on defense," and especially urged each country to actively utilize the EU fiscal rule escape clause.
The activation of the fiscal rule escape clause is a key pillar of the 'rearmament plan' prepared by the Commission, aiming for each country to increase defense spending by up to 650 billion euros (approximately 1,022 trillion won) over the next four years without worrying about violating EU regulations.
The Commission believes that this could raise the current EU average defense spending from 1.99% of GDP to 3.5%, but ultimately, voluntary increases by each country are necessary to achieve this. Regarding the 150 billion euros (approximately 236 trillion won) in joint weapons procurement loan support from the EU budget directly utilized under the rearmament plan, President von der Leyen reaffirmed the position of "support when purchasing from European manufacturers."
Separately from the rearmament plan, the Commission will also release a 'Defense White Paper' on the 19th, which will include proposals for strengthening security readiness at the EU level, including additional financial mobilization.
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