EC President: It is time to build European Defense Union

On Tuesday, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission (EC), delivered a speech at the European Parliament Plenary joint debate on EC meetings and European Security in Strasbourg, France, Report informs via BTA.

"This is the moment for peace through strength. This is the moment for a common defense. We have started to mobilize Europe's massive resources. In the coming weeks and months, more courage will be necessary," von der Leyen said.

“We are facing a crisis of European security. But we know that it is in crisis that Europe has always been built,” she underlined.

The president added that if the European Union manages to unleash its industrial power, it will be able to restore deterrence against "those who seek to do us harm".

“The European security order is being shaken, and so many of our illusions are being shattered,” she stated and gave an example of how after the Cold War, some believed that Russia could be integrated in Europe's economic and security architecture, while others hoped that we could rely indefinitely on America's full protection.

The president also noted that due to this, Europe has lowered its guard, cut its defense spending from routinely averaging more than 3.5% to less than half of that. “The time of illusions is now over. Europe is called to take greater charge of its own defense. Not in some distant future but already today,” von der Leyen mentioned.

“It is time to build a European Defense Union that ensures peace on our continent through unity and strength. This is Europe's moment. And Europe will rise to it. Thank you, and long live Europe,” the EC President highlighted.