ROME (ITALPRESS) – “The one presented today by Von Der Leyen is not the way Europe needs. The European Union needs common defense, not national rearmament. They are two very different things. The Von Der Leyen plan, starting with the title, focuses on rearmament and no clear political direction toward common defense emerges. It points to a number of instruments that would facilitate national spending but without placing conditions on joint projects, on interoperability of systems.” This was stated in a note by Elly Schlein, secretary of the Democratic Party.
“There are many aspects to be clarified, such as how the new Sure-style mechanism would work, whether it funds joint projects or national spending. But this is not the right way. There is still a lack of political will on the part of governments to really do a common defense, and this Commission plan lacks European investments financed by common debt, like during the pandemic. So it risks becoming the mere national rearmament of 27 countries, and we are not in,” he adds.
“We have a clear idea. What is needed today is a major common investment plan for the strategic autonomy of the EU, which is together industrial cooperation, social cohesion, environmental and digital transition, energy security and also common defense. Also, but not only! Perhaps by deleting the other crucial priorities on which governments are most divided,” the Pd leader stresses. “It is imperative to counter inequalities that have increased. That is why it is unacceptable to use cohesion funds to finance national military spending. It is time for choices and clarity. We need a response equal to the global challenge – strategic, economic, political – to Europe’s role in the world. And this response is not the one presented today. We will bring our position already to the next summit of Socialists and Democrats in Brussels, ahead of the Extraordinary Council.”
– IPA Agency Photos –
(ITALPRESS).
