EU Calls for Accelerated Defense Production During Brussels Security Talks

(MENAFN) The European Union’s top foreign policy official has urged member states to accelerate defense manufacturing, as EU defense ministers gathered in Brussels for discussions focused on Ukraine, industrial capacity, and security challenges in the Middle East.

Kaja Kallas said ahead of the meeting that Europe needed to streamline its defense efforts and reduce fragmentation across national programs. She emphasized cooperation and innovation, stating: “We are focusing on innovation and joint projects because we have too many projects in different member states that are not interoperable.”

She pushed for deeper coordination between EU countries, particularly in procurement, arguing that shared purchasing and technological development were essential. Kallas also pointed to the importance of incorporating lessons from Ukraine’s ongoing war.

Despite significant financial resources already allocated, she warned that production levels in the defense sector were not keeping pace with demand.

“The countries have a lot of funding on the table, but the defense industry is not ramping up its production,”

Ukraine’s defense minister is expected to participate in the talks, which also include discussions on a proposed €90 billion (about $97.8 billion) loan package intended to address Kyiv’s urgent military and financial needs, according to Kallas.

She added that EU officials would also meet with representatives from the defense industry to identify delays and supply chain bottlenecks, stressing the need for closer coordination.

“We need to see what the problem is so we can bring them together,”

Beyond Ukraine, the agenda also includes broader security issues. Kallas noted that ministers would discuss developments in Lebanon as well as maritime security operations in the Middle East region.

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