EU faces many existential threats: Defense chief

ATHENS

The European Union is facing many existential threats, the bloc’s commissioner-designate for defense and space said Wednesday.

Andrius Kubilius cited conventional warfare, hybrid attacks and the militarization of space as among the threats during his confirmation hearing by the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs and Industry, Research and Energy committees.

Underscoring the underinvestment in the defense sector and the fragmented European defense equipment market, he warned that strategic rivals such as China and Russia are outpacing the bloc in defense spending.

Against this background, Kubilius urged European lawmakers to support his efforts to create a genuine European Defense Union.

The EU, without competing with NATO, needs to help develop the capabilities and resources needed for the implementation of NATO military deterrence and defense plans, he said.

Highlighting the need to “spend more, spend better, spend together and spend European” on defense and scaling up EU defense equipment production and demand, Kubilius said “we must achieve a true single market for defense.”

Regarding space, he insisted that Europe must be part of the “space revolution.”

The EU needs to continue advancing its space flagship programs and work on ensuring European autonomous access to space, he said.

The European Investment Bank's lending policies can evolve, and the next multiannual financial framework should have larger spending lines for defense and space, he added.