On March 6, EU heads of state and government met to discuss Europe’s security and the EU’s continued support for Ukraine. The discussions took place in light of the shifting U.S. foreign policy under Donald Trump and the first talks between the U.S. and Russia about Ukraine’s future. The key takeaway: Europe must strengthen its own security capabilities and maintain its strong commitment to supporting Ukraine.
Key Decisions of the Summit:
- Support for Ukraine: The EU reaffirms its long-term commitment to Ukraine but remains vague about new financial commitments.
- “Re-Arm Europe” Initiative: Ursula von der Leyen’s proposal to increase defense spending was welcomed, but its implementation remains controversial.
- Financing Issues: New funding mechanisms for defense spending are being discussed, but there is no agreement yet on fresh financial resources or a long-term reform of the Stability and Growth Pact.
Concrete decisions are expected at the next summit on March 20.
Our Green Perspective:
- The “Re-Arm Europe” initiative is a first step but not enough. It must not come at the expense of climate protection or social cohesion.
- We need long-term and reliable financing mechanisms instead of temporary exceptions for military spending.
- Security is more than just defense — a European security approach must include diplomacy, economic stability, and crisis prevention.
Read the full conclusions of the summit here.
Find out more:
We also discussed these issues in our webinar on March 5. Together with Sergey Lagodinsky and Guntram Wolff, we analyzed how the EU can take responsibility for its security and what concrete steps are needed now.
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