Insisting that no EU country alone can protect itself against the threats facing Europe today, members of the European Parliament (MEPs) warn that national capitals must not reduce their defence spending in the coming years, “especially their financial involvement in European [defence] co-operative projects”.

The European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee on 22 September adopted a report warning against defence spending cuts. (Getty Images)

It is imperative to shift from a strictly national focus on defence to a stronger European one via the EU’s framework for Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO), they argue in a new draft report approved by the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs.

“We need to clearly acknowledge that we need stronger co-operation in security and defence in Europe”, said Radosław Sikorski, the MEP and former Polish defence minister who authored the report, which passed committee by 49 votes in favour and 12 against on 22 September.

“Streamlining defence co-operation is even more important today as national defence budgets will suffer reductions due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This will weaken the member states’ preparedness even more for dealing with similar crises in the future,” he said after the vote.

Insisting that no EU country alone can protect itself against the threats facing Europe today, members of the European Parliament (MEPs) warn that national capitals must not reduce their defence spending in the coming years, “especially their financial involvement in European [defence] co-operative projects”.

The European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee on 22 September adopted a report warning against defence spending cuts. (Getty Images)

It is imperative to shift from a strictly national focus on defence to a stronger European one via the EU’s framework for Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO), they argue in a new draft report approved by the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs.

“We need to clearly acknowledge that we need stronger co-operation in security and defence in Europe”, said Radosław Sikorski, the MEP and former Polish defence minister who authored the report, which passed committee by 49 votes in favour and 12 against on 22 September.

“Streamlining defence co-operation is even more important today as national defence budgets will suffer reductions due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This will weaken the member states’ preparedness even more for dealing with similar crises in the future,” he said after the vote.

Insisting that no EU country alone can protect itself against the threats facing Europe today, members of the European Parliament (MEPs) warn that national capitals must not reduce their defence spending in the coming years, “especially their financial involvement in European [defence] co-operative projects”.

The European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee on 22 September adopted a report warning against defence spending cuts. (Getty Images)

It is imperative to shift from a strictly national focus on defence to a stronger European one via the EU’s framework for Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO), they argue in a new draft report approved by the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs.

“We need to clearly acknowledge that we need stronger co-operation in security and defence in Europe”, said Radosław Sikorski, the MEP and former Polish defence minister who authored the report, which passed committee by 49 votes in favour and 12 against on 22 September.

“Streamlining defence co-operation is even more important today as national defence budgets will suffer reductions due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This will weaken the member states’ preparedness even more for dealing with similar crises in the future,” he said after the vote.

Insisting that no EU country alone can protect itself against the threats facing Europe today, members of the European Parliament (MEPs) warn that national capitals must not reduce their defence spending in the coming years, “especially their financial involvement in European [defence] co-operative projects”.

The European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee on 22 September adopted a report warning against defence spending cuts. (Getty Images)

It is imperative to shift from a strictly national focus on defence to a stronger European one via the EU’s framework for Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO), they argue in a new draft report approved by the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs.

“We need to clearly acknowledge that we need stronger co-operation in security and defence in Europe”, said Radosław Sikorski, the MEP and former Polish defence minister who authored the report, which passed committee by 49 votes in favour and 12 against on 22 September.

“Streamlining defence co-operation is even more important today as national defence budgets will suffer reductions due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This will weaken the member states’ preparedness even more for dealing with similar crises in the future,” he said after the vote.

Insisting that no EU country alone can protect itself against the threats facing Europe today, members of the European Parliament (MEPs) warn that national capitals must not reduce their defence spending in the coming years, “especially their financial involvement in European [defence] co-operative projects”.

The European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee on 22 September adopted a report warning against defence spending cuts. (Getty Images)

It is imperative to shift from a strictly national focus on defence to a stronger European one via the EU’s framework for Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO), they argue in a new draft report approved by the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs.

“We need to clearly acknowledge that we need stronger co-operation in security and defence in Europe”, said Radosław Sikorski, the MEP and former Polish defence minister who authored the report, which passed committee by 49 votes in favour and 12 against on 22 September.

“Streamlining defence co-operation is even more important today as national defence budgets will suffer reductions due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This will weaken the member states’ preparedness even more for dealing with similar crises in the future,” he said after the vote.

Insisting that no EU country alone can protect itself against the threats facing Europe today, members of the European Parliament (MEPs) warn that national capitals must not reduce their defence spending in the coming years, “especially their financial involvement in European [defence] co-operative projects”.

The European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee on 22 September adopted a report warning against defence spending cuts. (Getty Images)

It is imperative to shift from a strictly national focus on defence to a stronger European one via the EU’s framework for Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO), they argue in a new draft report approved by the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs.

“We need to clearly acknowledge that we need stronger co-operation in security and defence in Europe”, said Radosław Sikorski, the MEP and former Polish defence minister who authored the report, which passed committee by 49 votes in favour and 12 against on 22 September.

“Streamlining defence co-operation is even more important today as national defence budgets will suffer reductions due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This will weaken the member states’ preparedness even more for dealing with similar crises in the future,” he said after the vote.