EU urges faster arms production as defence ministers meet in Brussels

The EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called for a rapid expansion of Europe’s defence production capacity as EU defence ministers gathered in Brussels for discussions on Ukraine, military industry cooperation, and security challenges in the Middle East.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Kallas emphasized the need for closer coordination among EU member states in defence projects and procurement, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

“We are focusing on innovation and joint projects because we have too many projects in different member states that are not interoperable,” she said.

Kallas stressed that the European Union must encourage member states toward “more joint procurement” and greater innovation in defence, adding that lessons learned from the war in Ukraine should shape future policy decisions.

She also voiced concern over the pace of defence industry production despite substantial financial commitments by European governments.

 “The countries have a lot of funding on the table, but the defence industry is not ramping up its production,” Kallas said.

According to the EU top diplomat, Ukraine’s defence minister is expected to join the talks, during which ministers will discuss a proposed €90 billion ($97.8 billion) loan package intended to address Kyiv’s urgent military needs.

Kallas added that ministers would also meet with representatives of the defence industry to identify obstacles affecting weapons production and delivery.

“We need to see what the problem is so we can bring them together,” she said.

The discussions are also set to cover developments in the Middle East, including the situation in Lebanon and maritime security operations.

Kallas noted that several EU member states had expressed interest in a potential new European mission aimed at supporting the Lebanese armed forces following the planned conclusion of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon mission later this year.

She further highlighted ongoing discussions surrounding the EU’s Operation Aspides naval operation in the Strait of Hormuz, saying the mission’s operational plan could be modified if member states reach an agreement.

“We have it already. We only need to change the operational plan of that mandate,” Kallas said, adding that the framework for the mission was already in place but would require additional political backing and contributions from member states before moving forward.

By Vafa Guliyeva