Dear President,

Honourable Members,

Thank you for discussing the future of European Defence.

This is a crucial debate for this House. The current period will define the history of Europe and the EU.

We live in a unique time. Europe must prepare for the worst to prevent it.

The threat of military aggression is real. Russia is ready for confrontation with NATO. Americas focus on Asia is a wake-up call.

Europe must strengthen its own defence and deterrence and support Ukraine.

A strong peace means a strong Europe, capable of deterring aggression and preventing war.

For this, we must completely overhaul the defence industry.

There are massive shortages of tanks, vehicles, and artillery. Member States must invest massively, and the EU will support them with European coordination and financing.

This Commission has placed defence at the top of the agenda. We must now scale up and speed up.

The White Paper provides the foundation for our industrial victory in the defence of peace in Europe.