European Council President: EU Leaders Remain Steadfast In Their Support To Ukraine

(MENAFN- UkrinForm) The heads of state and government of the European Union reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine and its efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace during a meeting dedicated to strengthening Europe's defense.

During a press conference following the informal EU leaders' summit on February 3 in Brussels, European Council President António Costa emphasized Ukraine's central role in the discussions, Ukrinform reports.

"Let me stress that the situation in Ukraine was very much present throughout the day. We remain steadfast in our commitment to Ukraine's security, to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace. We Europeans have already delivered support to Ukraine to the tune of €134 billion – and we will continue to deliver. Because we are determined to support Ukraine for as long as necessary and whatever it takes," Costa stated.

He noted that EU leaders continued discussions initiated at the 2022 Versailles Summit, where member states agreed to take greater responsibility for their own defense. While significant progress has been made since then, more needs to be done to make Europe better, stronger, and faster, a goal that can only be achieved collectively.

"The ongoing war in Ukraine, cyber and hybrid attacks, the situation in the Middle East – all this calls for a strong European approach to ensure the security of all our citizens, to ensure peace on our continent. And building the Europe of Defence is an integral part of this project. Today, our discussions focused on three main topics: capabilities, funding, and partnerships," Costa explained.

He emphasized that the first priority, the development of defense capabilities, must be carried out by EU member states in coordination with the European Defense Agency and in full coherence with NATO.

Among the most urgent priorities, EU leaders focused on strengthening national air and missile defense systems, increasing ammunition production, enhancing military mobility, and developing strategic assets. The key to achieving these goals lies in strengthening Europe's defense industry, as Europe must produce more military capabilities and do so at a faster pace.

The second priority is increasing funding for European defense. Member states have already made significant efforts at the national level, with their defense spending rising by 30% between 2021 and 2024. All 23 EU countries that are also NATO members currently allocate approximately 2% of their GDP to defense and are expected to continue in this direction.

The European Commission will explore ways to enhance the economic governance system to allow member states to allocate more resources to the defense sector. The allocation of state funds for these needs will be reflected in the next EU budget cycle as of 2028.

The third key priority for strengthening European defense, according to Costa, is the development of partnerships.

“The EU's strategic partnership with NATO is key to ensuring transatlantic security. Both organizations will continue to work together and reinforce each other...The United States is our friend, our ally and our partner. This is a relationship that has deep roots and will endure in time. Problems and differences of views can come up also between friends. When they do, we need to address them, to talk and to find solutions. Of course, while defending our values and upholding our principles, and without compromising our own interests,” Costa emphasized.

He recalled that such universal values and principles are the foundation of the international order established after World War II with the participation of the United States. This order is based on the protection of national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the inviolability of borders.

"In conclusion: we have made progress in our discussions on building the Europe of Defense. We are driven by a shared sense of urgency. We are not discussing the 'if' anymore. We are discussing how to do it," the European Council President added.

As reported, on February 3, EU leaders gathered in Brussels for an informal summit, marking the first time they convened specifically to discuss strengthening Europe's security and defense.

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