The peace in the European Union cannot continue to be perceived as a given. We are facing the crisis in European security. But we know that this is the crisis in which Europe has always been built. So this is the moment (achievement) of peace through force. This is a moment for joint efforts in the defense, ”she said.
According to von Der Lyen, during the last European Council, the level of consensus around defense issues among the leaders of the countries was "unprecedented" and simply "unimaginable" a few weeks ago. They realized that they should think and act differently to mobilize economic resources to strengthen their safety. And these efforts will need determination and courage over the next weeks and months, because "the European security order has been shocked."
“Many of our illusions were dispelled. After the Cold War, someone believed that Russia could be integrated into the economic and security architecture of Europe. Others hoped that we could definitely rely on American protection. So we reduced our protection. We have reduced more than half our defensive costs from the usual average level higher than 3.5%. We thought we could use dividends of peace. But in reality, we only created a security deficit. The time of illusions ended, ”the head of the EC stated.
She stressed that Europe should take more responsibility for its own defense "right now". This requires Europeans to achieve a "splash" in their own defensive capabilities due to security situation.
“We need this, first of all, as a result of the situation in Ukraine. There is an urgent need to fill in military supply for Ukraine and provide Ukraine with strong security guarantees. But this crucial moment applies not only to Ukraine. It is about Europe and the safety of all our continent, ”Ursula Der Lyen summarized Ursula.
