Munich (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – MEP Manfred Weber, the leader of the EPP in the EU Parliament, has called for immediate decisions on an independent European defence policy following the split between the Washington and Kyiv.
The leader of the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP), the largest group in the European Parliament said,
If you look at Washington, you have to understand: Europe is alone and we must now arm ourselves independently.
The German politician told the Funke media outlet in remarks.
Weber said it was time to “take the first steps towards a European army.”
Far too much time has been wasted,
he also said.
European countries should increasingly procure defence equipment produced in Europe, Weber argued.
If the US is no longer a reliable friend and partner, then the question arises as to why we buy most of our weapons from the US.
We need to strengthen our own defence industry,
said Weber.
The EPP head said that difficult decisions must be made at a special EU summit on backing for Ukraine and European defence to be taken place in Brussels. The remarks came just two days after US President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky fell out spectacularly in a televised session at the Oval Office.
How does Weber warn against a rushed peace deal?
Two months back, the leader of the European People’s Party group in the European Parliament, Manfred Weber, cautioned against a hasty arrangement to end the war in Ukraine. The German politician stated in an interview that the West should not present Russian leader Vladimir Putin a short-term contract, but should set clear limits for him.
We thought that this thinking ended with World War 2 in Europe. This is not the case. We are at Putin’s crosshairs,
Weber stated.
The question is not whether we as Europe will survive the war in Ukraine financially; the EU will always be in control given its financial and economic strength,
he noted.
This year is about what a stable peace and security order in Europe can look like in the medium and long term,
stated the leader of the conservatives in the EU Parliament.
In addition, he also said, Germany’s defense budget should also be raised by more than 2 percent of GDP, which is the “absolute minimum.”
