In a strong show of unity, European Union leaders gathered in Brussels on Thursday to ramp up the bloc's defense capabilities and reaffirm their unwavering support for Ukraine. 🇪🇺🤝🇺🇦
During the one-day special summit, leaders endorsed the ReArm Europe initiative, originally introduced by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. This plan paves the way for increased defense spending by activating the national escape clause under the Stability and Growth Pact, offering immediate budgetary flexibility across EU member states.
The agreement calls on the Commission to explore additional measures while ensuring debt sustainability, enabling significant defense investments at the national level. 🛡️💶
EU officials also backed the Commission's proposal for a new instrument that could provide member states with up to 150 billion euros ($161.8 billion) in loans backed by the EU budget. Leaders urged the European Council to prioritize this proposal urgently.
The summit comes amidst pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has been urging European partners to take more responsibility for their own defense. His remarks have intensified the EU's resolve to strengthen collective defense efforts. 🇺🇸🇪🇺
In a show of solidarity, 26 EU leaders expressed their support for Ukraine, although Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban was notably absent from the agreement.
Emphasizing the importance of involving Ukraine in peace negotiations, the EU leaders stated that there can be no talks without Ukraine's participation and that Europeans must be actively involved in discussions concerning their own security.
Financially, the EU committed a whopping 30.6 billion euros in aid for Ukraine in 2025. Of this, 12.5 billion euros will be funneled through the Ukraine Facility, while 18.1 billion euros will come from profits generated by immobilized Russian assets.
This landmark decision marks a significant step in the EU's commitment to both strengthening its defense mechanisms and supporting Ukraine in these turbulent times.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
