Russia poses threat to all European countries - EU Council President
Photo: President of the European Council Antonio Costa (Getty Images)
The EU warns that Russia poses a threat to all European countries. This is a collective threat, regardless of how far an EU country is from Moscow, European Council President Antonio Costa says.
Costa made this statement in an interview with AFP on the eve of the EU leaders' summit to be held on March 20.
“Naturally, Russia’s neighbors are most concerned by Russia – that goes without saying. But what is essential is for everyone to understand that this is a collective threat,” the European Council president said.
Costa was also asked whether Europe should start restricting defense procurement by European companies. In response, he recalled the urgency of rearming the EU.
“It’s a question of timeframe. The equipment we need now, we should buy where it is available – from Europe, South Korea, Japan, the United States, or Türkiye” the European Council President said.
Costa added that in the long run, not only procurement but also production is important, and this requires strengthening the industrial and technological base.
Europe's rearmament plan
In March, the European Commission presented the ReArm Europe rearmament plan worth €150 billion. At a summit on March 6, EU leaders approved it.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen explained that the plan provides member states with fiscal space to invest in defense.
According to the Western media, France and Germany argued over the rearmament plan. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz believes that other friendly countries should be involved in the project, but French President Emmanuel Macron is against it.
