I remember that, sometime over ten years ago, acquisition of four “used” C-130 Hercules aircraft from the USA for our army’s transport requirements was being seriously considered.
Over the next year, the fund should support € 8 billion in building European security capabilities, building on the existing European Military Industry Development Program (EDIDP). There is no doubt that Europeans want to strengthen their defense capabilities in the coming years. Not as a counterpart to the North Atlantic Alliance, but as a complement to it. However, the EU has had several similar projects in the past, but all eventually fell into oblivion. Suffice it to recall the creation of EU Battlegroups, which we keep very costly on alert, but we have never had the opportunity to use them in combat.
The problem is not political will, but inconsistent European defense legislation, which prevents the creation of a homogeneous European security environment. Therefore, I believe that, first of all, we must adopt uniform and, above all, binding legislative standards throughout Europe, as well as set out decision-making mechanisms. Only in this way can the latest defense initiative have a chance for enduring existence.