EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Tuesday that new plans to strengthen Europe’s defence industry and enhance military capabilities could mobilise close to €800 billion (approximately $841.4 billion).
n her remarks, von der Leyen outlined proposals designed to provide member states with increased fiscal space for defence investments. Key elements of the plan include offering €150 billion in loans to support these investments and actively seeking to attract additional private capital to bolster defence projects across the bloc.
The initiative is part of a broader strategy aimed at reinforcing Europe’s strategic autonomy amid evolving global security challenges. By expanding financial support and leveraging both public and private funding, the EU intends to enable member states to modernise their military capabilities and reduce dependency on external sources for critical defence technology.
“Ensuring that our member states have the financial tools to invest in modernising their armed forces is essential for the security and stability of Europe,” von der Leyen said. The proposed measures are intended to accelerate defence projects and maintain a robust European defence industry capable of addressing emerging threats.
The proposal comes at a time when geopolitical tensions and an uncertain security landscape are prompting EU leaders to re-examine defence spending and strategic priorities. Further discussions and negotiations among member states and EU institutions will determine the specific mechanisms for mobilising the estimated €800 billion.
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Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for April 16th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
A mob attack on an Ahmadi place of worship in Karachi has left one man dead, highlighting ongoing persecution of the minority group.
A Russian court has sentenced 19-year-old Darya Kozyreva to nearly three years in prison for protesting the war in Ukraine using poetry and graffiti.
The new U.S. ambassador to Japan has called for closer military coordination with Tokyo, framing the alliance as crucial amid rising regional tensions and ongoing trade disputes.
Students in Serbia have rallied outside a police station as Belgrade University’s rector is questioned over support for anti-government protests.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov extended Moscow’s support for the ongoing indirect nuclear talks between the United States and Iran, offering to mediate or assist in any way that would be beneficial to Tehran and acceptable to Washington.
A mob attack on an Ahmadi place of worship in Karachi has left one man dead, highlighting ongoing persecution of the minority group.
A Russian court has sentenced 19-year-old Darya Kozyreva to nearly three years in prison for protesting the war in Ukraine using poetry and graffiti.
The new U.S. ambassador to Japan has called for closer military coordination with Tokyo, framing the alliance as crucial amid rising regional tensions and ongoing trade disputes.
Students in Serbia have rallied outside a police station as Belgrade University’s rector is questioned over support for anti-government protests.
OpenAI has unveiled a new option called Flex processing, an API service designed to provide more affordable AI model usage in exchange for slower response times and occasional resource unavailability.
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