The ReArm Europe plan was presented by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and endorsed by the 27 Member States at a special summit on 6 March. It contains five main proposals; they are certainly interesting, but also worthy of further discussion.
The ReArm Europe plan was presented by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and endorsed by the 27 Member States at a special summit on 6 March. It contains five main proposals; they are certainly interesting, but also worthy of further discussion.
The first proposal is flexibility in the Stability and Growth Pact.
The Commission is proposing to activate the escape clause of the Stability and Growth Pact, which would allow Member States to increase defence spending by 1.5% of GDP without risking the opening of an excessive deficit procedure. The expected savings? ‘Close to EUR 650 billion’ over four years. Europe needs to ‘significantly step up its defence spending’, argues Ursula von der Leyen.
The second proposal is a new defence lending instrument.
This instrument would be worth EUR 150 billion, financed through loans from the EU budget under a system similar to macro-financial assistance. It is intended to be used in priority areas where there are serious shortcomings: air and missile defence (the German European Sky Shield initiative), artillery systems, missiles and ammunition, drones and anti-drone systems, strategic enablers, critical infrastructure protection (including in relation to space), military mobility, cyber, artificial intelligence and electronic warfare.
To speed up the process, the Commission proposes to use Article 122 of the Treaty: used in exceptional circumstances, this simply requires the agreement of the Member States within the Council of the EU, with the European Parliament just being informed. That is a circumvention of the democratic process that could be disputed. The plan to bolster Europe’s defence was endorsed at the Versailles summit in March 2022 – three years ago! It seems difficult to justify calling this ‘urgent’.
The third proposal is to dip into regional funds.
In the short term, the Commission insists, the European Union ‘can do more’ with the European budget by redeploying funds from certain budget headings. It proposes giving the Member States the option ‘to use cohesion policy programmes to increase defence spending’, and wants to ‘facilitate the process for voluntary transfers to other EU funds with a defence objective’.
This represents a major cut in the current multiannual budget plan (2021-2027). The question is: should we sacrifice social or regional cohesion for the sake of defence? It’s up for debate.
At the same time, the STEP platform for strategic technologies could be further mobilised by extending it to all technologies in the defence sector. Another possibility, according to the Commission, is relaxing existing restrictions, such as competition rules or pre-financing and co-financing rules.
The fourth proposal is EIB loans.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) and its shareholders (the Member States) have repeatedly voiced their opposition to any further move towards lending to the purely military sector, preferring the dual sector. The Commission is therefore insisting on changing the EIB’s policy.
The fifth proposal is mobilising private capital.
The aim is to give defence companies ‘the best possible access to capital, to finance’ – a recurring problem for the industry. This idea should be included in the communication on a ‘Savings and Investment Union’.
Our surprise guest is Nicolas Gros-Verheyde, a journalist, author and expert in defence and foreign politics. He breaks down the five proposals of the ReArm Europe plan, recently presented by the European Commission to beef up European defence amid rising concerns about the US commitment to the European security.
Our surprise guest is Nicolas Gros-Verheyde, a journalist, author and expert in defence and foreign politics. He breaks down the five proposals of the ReArm Europe plan, recently presented by the European Commission to beef up European defence amid rising concerns about the US commitment to the European security.
Nicolas Gros-Verheyde has been a journalist since 1989. He worked for Ouest France, ARTE, LCI and France Culture as EU and NATO correspondent. He is known and respected in European circles for his extensive knowledge of European affairs and foreign and defence policy. He is editorial director of B2, which was founded in 2008 and is the leading and most comprehensive media outlet on European defence and diplomacy. It is managed by a non-profit association in the form of a cooperative of journalists, and funded by subscriptions.
Author of the books Défense européenne à l'heure de la guerre en Ukraine, La politique européenne de sécurité et de défense commune. Parce que l'Europe vaut bien une défense, and Europe de la défense, and political news pundit on LN24, France-Info and RTBF.
On the occasion of the 69th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) in New York, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and the African Union Economic, Social and Cultural Council (AU ECOSOCC) reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment.
On the occasion of the 69th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) in New York, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and the African Union Economic, Social and Cultural Council (AU ECOSOCC) reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment.
As the international community marks 30 years since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and the Platform for Action, the EESC and AU ECOSOCC acknowledge both the progress achieved and the ongoing challenges that continue to hinder full gender equality.
Their second joint declaration highlights key priorities, including increasing women’s leadership through gender quotas, ending gender-based violence via international conventions, bridging the digital gender divide, and promoting women’s economic empowerment.
The declaration urges stronger policies on unpaid care work, women’s inclusion in peace efforts, and data-driven policy-making. It also emphasises global cooperation to dismantle systemic inequalities and uphold women’s rights. The EESC also calls on the EU to combat gender-based violence, ensure gender parity, and defend civil society’s role in advancing equality.
EESC president Oliver Röpke, said:‘As we commemorate 30 years since the Beijing Declaration, we must turn words into action. Gender equality is not a privilege but a fundamental right, and its achievement is critical for sustainable and inclusive societies. The EESC stands firm in its commitment to breaking barriers, ensuring women’s full participation in decision-making and fostering economic empowerment. Now is the time for governments, institutions and civil society to act decisively – there is no equality without accountability.’
The Commission on the Status of Women is the main international and intergovernmental body fighting for gender equality. This was the second time that the EESC took part in the UN’s largest annual gathering on women’s empowerment. (tk)
by Andris GOBIŅŠ (LV), Member, Civil Society Organisations’ Group - President, European Movement in Latvia (EKL)
In today’s turbulent times, including those in US policy, that title might sound somewhat strange, but in fact Ukraine’s candidacy for EU membership is an opportunity for – and obligation on – us in the EU to grasp, if we ourselves do not want to experience severe suffering like the people living in Ukraine. ...
points out that further reductions in the regulatory burden are still required, given that SMEs are facing double and triple legislative requirements as a result of the additional wave of regulation and existing requirements, including in relation to the Green Deal;
highlights that reducing the regulatory burden must not jeopardise compliance with social, environmental and consumer safety rights and standards established at international and EU levels, or with the principle of transparency and the rule of law in the EU;
recommends creating an easy-to-use ‘single reporting tool’ that can provide SMEs, mid-caps and other companies with all EU-relevant reporting obligations, deadlines and sanctions; also recommends that the SME test and the competitiveness check should be merged into one procedure and that the Regulatory Scrutiny Board (RSB) should be significantly strengthened and made more independent.
This joint public hearing is being organised as part of preparations for two related opinions. Firstly, it will gather insights from organised civil society on progress with, and the challenges of, implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR), and will involve collecting proposals for the upcoming new EPSR Action Plan. Secondly, the hearing will also discuss the forthcoming EU Anti-Poverty Strategy, including the role of the social partners and other civil society organisations in shaping policies and measures to combat poverty and social exclusion within the EPSR framework.
The upcoming Commission-proposal and subsequent negotiations surrounding the post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) will take place at a crucial moment of heightened tensions between the EU’s strategic objectives and the size and allocation of its budget.
