Ursula von der Leyen on Recent US Statements: A Call for European Action
Recent statements from Washington have stirred confusion across Europe, according to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Addressing the Munich Security Conference on Friday, von der Leyen spoke on the topic “The EU in the World,” highlighting the impact of U.S. officials’ remarks at the beginning of this week.
“High-level American officials’ statements have bewildered many in Europe’s security community, even raising concerns,” von der Leyen stated. “However, we need to be honest. We must avoid anger and shouting. If we listen to the essence of these remarks, we will not only understand their source but also recognize some points we can agree upon.”
She emphasized the shared goal between the EU and the U.S. to end bloodshed, specifying, “We want a just and lasting peace that leads to a sovereign and prosperous Ukraine. Ukraine must be given reliable security guarantees. I believe it’s particularly important for Europe to speak frankly and act accordingly. Thus, there’s no room for doubt.”
Von der Leyen stressed the need for Europe to do more in terms of security, saying, “When it comes to European security, Europe must do more. Europe needs to contribute more. To achieve this, we need a significant increase in defense spending across Europe.”
She pointed out that currently, the 27 EU countries spend about 2% of their GDP on defense. “Yes, our defense spending has increased from just over €200 billion before the war to more than €320 billion last year. But we will need to significantly increase this figure again. Because the jump from slightly under 2% to over 3% means additional investments worth hundreds of billions each year. Therefore, we need a bold approach.”
During her speech at the Munich summit, von der Leyen also noted that the EU is intensifying its efforts to fast-track Ukraine’s accession into the Union, acknowledging that significant progress has already been made.
