EU must be ready to face Russian aggression by the end of the decade - Kubilius.

The candidate for the position of European Commissioner for Defense and Space, Andrius Kubilius, stated that Russia could act aggressively against EU countries by the end of the decade. Therefore, he believes that the formation of a European Defense Union, which will strengthen NATO, is a primary task for the next composition of the European Commission. The speaker made these statements during a hearing in the European Parliament in Brussels.

Kubilius discussed the most important challenges for European defense. The first is existential threats such as conventional warfare, cyber-attacks, hybrid wars, and weaponization in space. The second challenge is the significant lack of investment in security and defense in EU member states, amounting to over 1 trillion euros. This leads to critical gaps in European defense capabilities. The third challenge lies in the fragmentation of the European defense market, resulting in inefficiency and duplication of efforts.

Kubilius also noted that Russia and China are rapidly increasing their defense budgets while underfunding continues in EU countries. By 2025, Russia intends to spend more on defense than all 27 EU countries combined. According to Kubilius, a genuine European Defense Union based on cooperation between the EU, NATO, and their members is necessary for ensuring peace.

The speaker urged Members of the European Parliament to support the development of a defense union and stated that there is no competition between the EU and NATO. The EU can use its legal and budgetary capabilities to assist NATO in developing capabilities and protection.