European Defence: EU leaders must be ambitious and meet citizens’ expectations

Ahead of today’s EU summit in Brussels, the Renew Europe Group in the European Parliament calls on the Heads of State and Government to use the European Commission’s White Paper for European Defence as a starting point for their debates and come up with fast and bold decisions to meet the challenges of the current geopolitical context we found ourselves in.

Our political group played a pivotal role in shaping the Commission’s White Paper, most of Renew Europe’s requests and proposals being included in the Parliament’s position on the matter, adopted last week by the plenary, calling for a historical transformation of our defence sector. The European Parliament is ready to act in a quick manner by supporting a swift adoption of a concrete set of actions.

Renew Europe MEP, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (FDP, Germany), Chair of the Committee on Security and Defence, said:

“Europe must act swiftly, decisively, and in unity. The White Paper not only identifies the pressing threats to our security and freedom, but also provides a concrete set of tools that Member States can adopt immediately to react to these threats. The course is set and the time to act is now.”

MEP Nathalie Loiseau (Horizons, France), Renew Europe Group’s coordinator in SEDE Committee, added:

“The Commission has published its White Paper. The European Parliament has defined its position on the future of European Defence. Now, we are only waiting for the European Council. What we expect are actions, not words. Significant progress, not small steps. And it would be best not to wait too long.”