France and Germany clash over ‘buy EU’ weapons

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The proposed injection of 150 billion euros in the European Union defense industry has become a new flashing point in a long -term battle between France and Germany on the continent’s armament campaign and whether it should include countries outside the bloc.

Europe has pledged the threats of US president Donald Trump to end the generations of American protection, and has pledged to increase defense spending significantly and increase its local capabilities that have withered since the Cold War.

Last week, the European Commission suggested collecting 150 billion euros, which would approach the capitals to enhance its military production. Although the extensive idea has unanimously obtained political support, the details are still embodied, with severe pressure on whether the money can be spent on the weapon outside the mass.

During the European Union Summit on Thursday, many leaders, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholls, said the initiative should be open to non -similar partners in thinking. “It is very important for us that projects that can be supported are open.. Countries are not part of the European Union but are working closely, such as Great Britain, Norway, Switzerland or Turkey.”

However, French President Emmanuel Macron, who has long supported the increase in European autonomy and promoting local industrial production, said that “spending should not be on a new set of non -European cliff again.”

He added that the gaps in the critical capabilities in Europe-including air defense, long-term strikes, intelligence, reconnaissance and targeting-“the method is to identify the best businessmen and companies that we have.”

He also said that every country member of the European Union will be asked to “re -examine requests to see if a priority can be given to European orders.”

Brussels diplomats are concerned that an initiative worth 150 billion euros has come out of the same argument that delayed the agreement for more than a year on the European Defense Industry program, which is a exchange exchange of 1.5 billion euros for defense. The efforts made to implement it to stop this winter after Paris demanded the maximum for spending on components outside the European Union and a ban on products that contain IP protection from the third countries.

The senior officials of the committee in charge of formulating the detailed proposal in the next ten days have been urged to communicate closely with Paris, Berlin and other capitals to ensure that it is not banned when it is presented for approval by member states.

“There is a lot of work to do in this regard. A European Union official said:” He was not present a week ago and he should be ready in less than two weeks. “There will be concessions.”

The Chairman of the Orasola von der Lyen said that the loans, which will target seven major capabilities including air and missile defense, artillery and drones, will help member states to gather demand and purchase together, “as well as to provide” immediate military equipment for Ukraine. “

The Polish government, which currently bears the rotating presidency of the European Union, and is charged with chairing the ministerial meetings of the mass, will be under pressure to reach a rapid agreement. The initiative can be approved by the majority of the 27 European Union states, but the French purchase is seen as necessary even if it is possible to dismantle the country-as an EDIF precedent appears.

“We are at a stage where this must be sorted in the name of speed, not perfection,” said the European Union diplomat in the negotiations. “But if there is a hesitation in the 1.5 billion euro arrival memory last, how do we expect to do 150 billion euros?”

The committee refused to comment.