Viola von Cramon-Taubadel, Representative for United for Ukraine network, Member of European Parliament (2019-2024), emphasized during her online address the strategic importance of Ukraine’s defense industry and the need for new approaches to its support from the EU. She spoke at the discussion “Arms production investments. Are Western partners ready to strengthen Ukraine’s defense capabilities?” organized by the New Europe Center in partnership with the National Interests Advocacy Network “ANTS” NGO.
In particular, Viola von Cramon-Taubadel highlighted:
- the need to introduce faster and more flexible instruments to meet Kyiv’s defense requirements. Ukraine’s actual wartime needs in the fight against Russia are at a much higher technological level than envisaged by existing European programs (for example, SAFE – Security Action for Europe). The European Commission could outline guidelines and recommendations that would allow investments not only in tanks and traditional equipment but also in cutting-edge technologies that are already being extensively developed and produced in Ukraine;
- the importance of explicitly integrating joint production into the system of security guarantees and focusing on direct investments;
- the need to convey to society and the political elite why it is essential to support Ukraine in developing new technologies. Hybrid and military attacks from Russia continue daily, yet many in Germany do not realize this could become a real threat to them;
- the shortage of qualified personnel in the European defense industry: even with high unemployment, it is difficult to find skilled workers due to the low prestige of the sector and burdensome permitting procedures.
The video recording
in Ukrainian is available here: https://cutt.ly/erXbvdvm
in English is here: https://cutt.ly/4rZcFA41.
Photo-report: https://cutt.ly/wrVgoJig
This event is funded by the UK government as part of the “Mutual Transformative Power: changing Ukraine through cooperation with wider Europe” project, implemented by the New Europe Center. The views expressed during the event are those of the participants and may not coincide with the official position of the UK government.
