EU proposes centralized arms procurement system for defense

The European Commission is planning to create a central system for the purchase of weapons for all EU countries. This proposal comes from Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the Commission. She announced the idea on Tuesday, calling it a “European Military Sales Mechanism.” This would allow member states to buy arms from a common reserve to help replenish their own supplies. This initiative responds to Europe's need to strengthen its defense capabilities amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Von der Leyen emphasized the importance of increasing orders for European arms manufacturers, many of whom have faced challenges in boosting production. France and Germany have also recently committed to investing more in their own defense industries. In her speech in Copenhagen, von der Leyen stressed the need for Europe to rely on its own defense resources. She highlighted that defense spending among EU states has increased significantly since 2021 but still lags behind the United States, Russia, and China. The Commission aims to unlock €800 billion for defense investment, including a new instrument designed to quickly provide €150 billion for member states. On the same day, Germany's parliament approved plans to invest up to €1 trillion in the country's military, a decision led by Chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz. France's President Emmanuel Macron also announced additional military spending, focusing on expanding France's air force capabilities. Von der Leyen mentioned that joint purchasing would allow European armed forces to better coordinate and standardize their capabilities. However, this proposal represents a shift in power towards Brussels, as national governments have traditionally retained control over defense matters. The proposal will require support from the majority of EU member states to be implemented. A new defense strategy from the Commission is set to be released soon, which will outline this central purchasing plan further. Von der Leyen has also suggested financial reforms to encourage increased defense spending among EU countries, including a new fund for military investments.