Pakistan(National Times)- Addressing lawmakers in Strasbourg, von der Leyen said Europe\u2019s security order was \u201cbeing shaken,\u201d suggesting the continent could no longer rely on \u201cAmerica\u2019s full protection\u201d. \u201cThe time of illusions is now over. Europe is called to take greater charge of its own defence,\u201d the European Commission president told the EU\u2019s parliament. \u201cWe need a surge in European defence. And we need it now.\u201d Brussels has already sent a clear signal it is moving in that direction, with EU leaders last week endorsing a commission plan aimed at mobilising up to 800 billion euros ($860 billion) to boost defence spending. The defence plan proposes to provide members with EU-backed loans of up to 150 billion euros and eases fiscal rules to allow states to spend much more. European governments are under pressure to step up on defence as US President Donald Trump questions whether the United States \u2014 the guarantor of Europe\u2019s security since World War II \u2014 should continue its central role in NATO. Trump\u2019s pivot away from the United States\u2019 transatlantic partners comes as he seeks a rapprochement with Russia to end the Ukraine war \u2014 raising fears Kyiv could be forced into an unfavourable deal. Stating that Russian President Vladimir Putin \u201ccannot be trusted\u201d but only \u201cdeterred\u201d, von der Leyen noted that the Kremlin was spending more on its military \u201cthan all of Europe combined\u201d. \u201cWe all wish we could live in more peaceful times. But I am confident that, if we unleash our industrial power, we can restore deterrence against those who seek to do us harm,\u201d she said. \u201cIt is time to build a European Defence Union that ensures peace on our continent through unity and strength.\u201d The commission plan also allows member states to repurpose so-called \u201ccohesion\u201d funds intended for the development of poorer European countries and lifts curbs on defence investments by the bloc\u2019s lending arm, the European Investment Bank. Discussions on how to increase the bloc\u2019s military might are to continue at a summit in Brussels next week, with the commission to present a white paper ahead of time with further options to \u201csubstantially boost financing for European defence.\u201d \u201cThe European Council will continue to take work forward to build our deterrence, to strengthen the security of our continent,\u201d Antonio Costa, who heads the body bringing together the 27 EU states, told lawmakers in Strasbourg.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Pakistan(National Times)- Addressing lawmakers in Strasbourg, von der Leyen said Europe\u2019s security order was \u201cbeing shaken,\u201d suggesting the continent could no longer rely on \u201cAmerica\u2019s full protection\u201d. \u201cThe time of illusions is now over. Europe is called to take greater charge of its own defence,\u201d the European Commission president told the EU\u2019s parliament. \u201cWe need […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":100449,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-100448","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-international","entry"],"yoast_head":"\n