Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001541/2025
to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
Rule 144
Michał Dworczyk (ECR)
For decades, eastern European countries have been covered by the security umbrella provided by the United States, neglecting their own defence investments and not fulfilling their commitments as allies. Now, with the security situation deteriorating, countries such as Poland – which has been allocating over 2% of its GDP to defence for many years, thereby fulfilling its NATO commitments and responding to threats from Russia – find themselves at the heart of EU defence. However, in the Commission’s latest initiatives on the defence industry and EU security[1], these countries’ committed and long-standing positions have been neither appreciated nor reinforced. Also lacking are any preferential mechanisms and a recognition of the scale of their financial effort and strategic commitment. The need for a geographically even distribution of investments and to support the development of eastern EU countries’ potential has also been overlooked.
In light of the above:
- 1.In its initiatives on defence and the defence industry, why has the Commission not provided for any mechanisms to support, give preference to or, at the very least, recognise Member States that have been allocating at least 2% of their GDP towards defence for years and which, in practice, guarantee the security of the whole EU?
- 2.Will the Commission also consider Member States’ level of defence spending and geostrategic location, particularly for countries on the EU’s eastern flank, in current and future initiatives?
Submitted: 15.4.2025
- [1] White Paper for European Defence – Readiness 2030, ReArm Europe Plan, draft SAFE regulation, draft EDIP regulation.