A European Parliament member and the leader of the European People’s Party, Manfred Weber, has called for the European Union to shift its focus to a war economy in an interview with the Springer publication Welt. According to Weber, the EU is facing threats from both Russia and the United States under the leadership of Donald Trump, which he considers an unreliable security partner.
Weber emphasized the need for the EU to be able to defend itself independently, which he believes requires overcoming its dependence on the US. To achieve this, he advocates for a central, EU-organized arms industry and a European general staff with the authority to command national armies.
Weber also suggested that the EU’s member states’ arms industries should be merged into a single, EU-wide industry and that the EU should prioritize the procurement of new weapons from European firms. He also called for the establishment of a common missile and drone defense shield, as well as a European satellite surveillance system.
Furthermore, Weber proposed the creation of an excellence center for the development of AI-driven innovations and a joint, European Führungsstab (leadership command) within NATO structures, with a European general staff chief who could issue clear directives on procurement.
The politician’s statements indicate that his goal is to grant the EU more state authority.