On Wednesday (16 July), NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska addressed a joint meeting of the European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) and the Committee on Security and Defence (SEDE). She explained the outcome of the NATO Summit in The Hague, called for stronger cooperation with the European Union (EU), and answered questions from Members of the European Parliament.
Source: Multimedia Centre of the European Parliament
Ms Shekerinska introduced the historic agreement reached by Allies at the NATO Summit in The Hague, to raise defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035. The new defence spending target is based on NATO's ambitious capability targets and the latest defence plans. "It is the price we must pay to preserve peace" she stated, adding that "not preparing to prevent war will cost us much, much more."
As a result of the Summit agreement, European Allies and Canada are stepping up, to take their fair share of defence spending. The Deputy Secretary General welcomed the EU's increased efforts on defence and stressed that NATO and the EU can do much more together, by boosting the defence industry, protecting critical infrastructure, and developing new capabilities. "But to keep Europe safe, we must ensure that our efforts are truly transatlantic," she noted.
As Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine continues, Ms Shekerinska highlighted U.S. President Donald Trump's new plan to supply Ukraine with military equipment financed by European Allies and Canada. The Deputy Secretary General underscored the importance of achieving a just and lasting peace for Ukraine. "Going forward, there is even more we can do together, to boost the Ukrainian defence industry and to better integrate it with our own," Ms Shekerinska affirmed. "This is our security as well ... Now we need to roll up our sleeves and deliver," she concluded.
