European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has called on European countries to accelerate efforts to strengthen their defence capabilities, warning that the bloc must be better prepared to respond to emerging security threats.
Kallas made the call after EU defence ministers reviewed the bloc’s first annual defence readiness report, which identified significant gaps in Europe’s military capabilities despite increased defence spending.
She said Europe needed a faster and more effective increase in defence investment, industrial capacity, innovation and capability development to meet its 2030 readiness target.
“Europe needs to rearm more quickly and more effectively to meet our target of 2030,” Kallas told reporters on Monday at the EU Defence Ministers’ meeting in Brussels.
Kallas also warned that European intelligence indicated Russia was planning further acts of sabotage and attacks targeting European countries.
She said the EU was working on an emergency security mechanism that would allow member states to coordinate responses to hybrid threats that fall short of conventional armed attacks.
The EU foreign policy chief stressed the need for greater vigilance and stronger cooperation among European countries as security concerns linked to Russia continue to grow.
The development comes as the EU intensifies efforts to strengthen its defence readiness while continuing military and financial support for Ukraine.
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