European Parliament supports Ukraine's inclusion in EU defense market

According to Ukrinform, this was reported on the European Parliament's website.

“Only by fully exploiting the potential of the single market can we create a defence system in which every euro invested delivers maximum innovation, security and cost-effectiveness,” said rapporteur Tobias Cremer of the Committee on Security and Defense.

In the first report, MEPs outlined their vision for a stronger, more integrated EU single defense market, which should contribute to strengthening the European defense industrial base, increasing long-term funding, enabling joint procurement, simplifying regulation, and reducing dependence on suppliers outside the EU.

It is specifically noted that “Ukraine should be treated as an integral part of the EU defence market.” The European Parliament links this approach to the Buy European policy in the field of defense procurement, which should strengthen the defense technological and industrial base and scale up production.

In the second report, MEPs pointed to serious gaps in the defense capabilities of EU member states, particularly in air and missile defense, artillery, missiles and ammunition, drones, and countermeasures.

In this regard, the European Parliament called on EU countries participating in relevant initiatives to launch flagship projects under the Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030 quickly. These include the European Drone Defence Initiative, Eastern Flank Watch, Air Defence Shield, and Defence Space Shield.

At the same time, MEPs called on the European Commission to define more clearly the objectives, management system, implementation deadlines, and financing of these initiatives.

As reported by Ukrinform, European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius said that the European Union should be realistic about the threats to the continent and focus on strengthening conventional defence, as the current US administration has insisted.

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