Kubilius Criticizes Europe’s Lack of Defense Cooperation

EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius has warned of serious problems facing Europe’s defense industry, saying the continent still struggles to bring joint arms projects to a successful conclusion.

In an interview with Spiegel, the Lithuanian politician said European cooperation worked well in the space sector, but that he could hardly think of a successful joint defense project. He cited the failure of the Franco-German Future Combat Air System (FCAS) fighter jet project as part of what he described as a troubling pattern.

Kubilius urged member states to cooperate more closely on a joint air defense system, drone development and plans for a new fighter jet. He cited Germany as a model because of its high level of defense spending.

At the same time, he warned that rising national defense budgets must not deepen Europe’s fragmentation. Countries were increasingly buying weapons independently or through bilateral arrangements, he said, calling the trend a negative development. Kubilius argued that all EU member states, not only Germany, should adopt a more European approach.

(onvista, bak)