Kubilius: EU needs to step up development of its defense industry - BNS INTERVIEW

VILNIUS - The European Union needs to develop its defense industry faster and more actively and make significant financial commitments, Lithuania's Andrius Kubilius says after being given the defense and space portfolio in the new European Commission.

"We probably feel that threat more than some other countries, but it is that threat perception, I believe, needs to be clearly visible to all and it needs to be clear to all that we need to invest much more in the defense industry," he said in an interview with BNS on Tuesday. 

The new portfolio will require a lot of creativity, Kubilius says and hopes that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will show leadership in this area.

"As a whole new portfolio and new responsibilities are being created, some issues will have to be negotiated among ourselves and with Ursula von der Leyen, and I expect very strong leadership from her on this matter," the ex-Lithuanian prime minister said.

He made the remarks after the EC president presented and allocated portfolios to members of her new team on Tuesday. Each of the 27 EU member states has one commissioner. All the candidates have yet to be confirmed by the European Parliament.

The position of the defense commissioner was initially hailed as crucial to the EU's rearmament ambitions, but there are now serious doubts about what real powers this commissioner will have.

In his new position, Kubilius says, he will face "many challenges that may have been less familiar to the European Commission until now".

"The European Union's defense capabilities and its defense industry are not developed to the level they should be because this area has lacked investment for a long time there, a lack of funds and a lack of innovation, and the EU countries are buying only 20 percent of the weapons they need from EU manufacturers," the politician said.

"This means that the military defense industry needs to be overhauled or, as Ms. von der Leyen herself says: the defense union needs to be developed and strengthened as the EU needs to be much more united in terms of defense and the EU can take care of what member countries lack, and also what NATO itself lacks, that is to say, it needs more of the necessary resources," he added.

Kubilius identified raising funds for defense and strengthening the military industry as key tasks.

"I do believe that the European Union can play a very important role in defense matters," the commissioner-designate said. "The key thing I repeat is that, yes, the EU does not have an army, it does not have generals, and probably will not have them, but it has the ability, unlike NATO and even its member states, to pool additional funds in a very significant way."

Speaking on ways to persuade member states to invest in defense, the Lithuanian politician stressed the need for the EU to have a common understanding of the threats facing Europe. Only then will the bloc invest more in defense and defense companies will also get more orders.

Space technology and innovation is an area where Europe has a lot of untapped potential, Kubilius also pointed out, adding that it "is starting to fall very far behind in its ability to launch satellites into space".