Von der Leyen urges EU to produce next-gen weapons

The European Union must keep up its policy of bolstering the military forces of its member nations and begin manufacturing new weapons for defence.

TASS cited the remarks made by Ursula von der Leyen, the chair of the European Commission (EC).

"The EU should ensure the production of new-generation weapons," she stated.

She asserts that Ukraine is the primary issue in terms of EU security.

On March 5, European Union officials unveiled plans to boost the bloc’s defence sector as it eyes rising threats and the need to increase self-reliance.

Under the proposed European Defence Industrial Strategy, announced by the European Commission on Tuesday, the bloc would boost spending and increase cooperation in procurement. The blueprint is driven both by the need to respond more effectively to Russia’s war in Ukraine and to reduce Europe’s heavy reliance on the United States.

The plan calls for the EU to inject 1.5 billion euros ($1.63bn) into a joint defence industry programme between 2025 and 2027. Member states would also be required to make at least 40 per cent of their defence equipment purchases collectively by 2030, and to have the value of intra-EU defence trade represent at least 35 per cent of the EU defence market.