Czech officials have expressed hope that former Lithuanian prime minister Andrius Kubilius, the man tipped to join von der Leyen’s team as European commissioner for Defence and Space, will put an end to Europe’s “dreaming” on defence and push for more practical action.
Known for his strong stance against Russian aggression, Kubilius is expected to bring a sense of urgency to European defence policy that many in Czechia believe has been lacking for too long.
Czech experts hope he will help Europe overcome its idealistic visions and face the realities of military preparedness.
“He has a good name and is a professional with a good professional reputation. The right choice,” Otakar Foltýn, former head of the Military Police and now the Czech government’s coordinator for strategic communication, told Euractiv Czechia.
“If it (the position of EU commissioner for defence) raises awareness of security and helps awaken Europe, which is still living in a dream world, then it is not a useless role,” he stressed, adding that Kubilius’ position could be key to improving Europe’s resilience.
“This requires a significant increase in the will for defence, which I currently see as growing very slowly,” Foltýn added.
He is also optimistic that Kubilius will avoid promoting grand concepts such as a European army, which he sees as a distraction from more pressing defence needs.
The European Union should first “do the homework”, said Foltýn, referring to the bloc’s need to spend at least 2% of GDP on defence and create the means for self-sufficiency in arms production.
“Less dreaming about a European army and more investment in defence, from transport infrastructure to the defence industry,” Foltýn added.
One of Kubilius’ first major tasks will be to present a White Paper on the Future of European Defence within his first 100 days in office. The paper will assess Europe’s defence capabilities and lay the groundwork for a more robust strategy. Key areas include developing a common European air defence system and strengthening cyber defences.
Czech EU Affairs Minister Martin Dvořák (STAN, EPP) also commented on Kubilius’ appointment, noting the importance of cooperating with NATO and the European Defence Agency (EDA).
“Cooperation with the European Defence Agency (EDA) will be crucial, especially regarding joint European defence procurement,” Dvořák told Euractiv Czechia.
“This also applies to collaboration with NATO on standardisation and certification of defence products,” he added.
(Aneta Zachová, Dávid Pásztor | Euractiv.cz)
Source: euractiv.com
