European Union plans military spending with some $5.8 billion per year to acquire more weaponry 10112164

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Defence & Security News - Europe
 
European Union plans military spending with some $5.8 billion per year to acquire more weaponry.
The European Union Wednesday, November 30, 2016, unveiled their “European Defence Action Plan (EDAP),” which aims at a major military spending increase alliance-wide, with some $5.8 billion a year being set aside to acquire more weaponry, including attack helicopters and drones.
     
The European Union Wednesday, November 30, 2016, unveiled their “European Defence Action Plan (EDAP),” which aims at a major military spending increase alliance-wide, with some $5.8 billion a year being set aside to acquire more weaponry, including attack helicopters and drones. Jean-Paul Juncker has been promoting the vision of a stronger Europe which protects its citizens.
     
President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker has been promoting the vision of a stronger Europe which protects its citizens. This requires more cooperation to increase efficiency in public defence spending, and a strong and innovative industrial base.

At the Bratislava Summit in September 2016, the leaders of 27 Member States concluded: "We need the EU not only to guarantee peace and democracy but also the security of our people." In a challenging geopolitical environment, they agreed on the need to strengthen EU cooperation on external security and defence.

The EU Global Strategy identified some broad priorities on capabilities and called for investments in areas such as space, border- and maritime surveillance and cyber-defence. The concrete military capability priorities that will be established as part of the implementation of the Strategy will provide guidance for the measures proposed by the EDAP.

The core objective of the EDAP is to support Member States' efforts in the development of strategic defence capabilities, from the research phase to the development of the prototype and the product. It will strengthen the competitiveness of the European defence industry.