Defence and competitiveness on EU’s Special Summit Agenda

The two-day EU summit begins Wednesday in Brussels with discussions on foreign affairs, including the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, tensions between Israel and Iran and the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

The EU leaders will be addressed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy via video link where he’s expected to urge them to provide his country with air defense systems. 

The bloc’s economic competitiveness in the face of growing competition from the United States and China will be at the center of European leaders’ discussions on Thursday.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Europe must take the “next leap forward” on defense in the next five years as it faces threats from an axis of authoritarian powers. 

Speaking at a defense and security conference in Brussels before the EU summit, she pointed to a “new league of authoritarians,” including Russia, Iran and North Korea, that was looking to “stretch our democracies to breaking point.” “This is why it is time for the European awakening on defense and security,” von der Leyen said.  “The threat of war may not be imminent, but it is not impossible,” she added. “We should be prepared. That starts with the urgent need to rebuild, replenish and transform member states’ armed forces.” She said the bloc’s focus would be on emerging technology. 

“We will focus on innovation to ensure Europe has that edge in the new technologies, which we see being deployed across the world in different conflicts,” the EU Commission chief said.