Last week, the European Parliament debated “Uniting Europe against actors hostile to the EU: Time to strengthen our security and defence.” In my speech, I highlighted a troubling reality: Europe’s fragmented approach to security is undermining its ability to protect its citizens and support allies like Ukraine.

One glaring example of this fragmentation is the incompatibility of a 155mm artillery shell from France with a German howitzer—bureaucratic inefficiency that complicates Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression. This illustrates the limitations of Europe’s Common Security and Defence Policy, even after 25 years of its existence.

Despite strategies and subsidies, Member States remain unwilling to cooperate, prioritizing national interests over collective security. Nowhere is this more evident than in cybersecurity. Europe depends heavily on U.S. technology for critical functions like attributing cyberattacks, data storage, and secure processors, while facing a shortage of one million IT experts.

This dependency leaves Europe vulnerable. Russia’s cyber capabilities threaten command and control systems, and foreign algorithms on platforms like TikTok and X risk undermining our elections. The solution is clear: Europe must unite—not just politically and economically, but also in defense. Investing in cybersecurity, ensuring interoperability across national forces, and reducing reliance on non-European technology are urgent priorities. National egoism has no place in addressing 21st-century threats. A united Europe is the only way to secure our future. That is what I underlined in my plenary speech: