EU leaders pledge to bolster bloc’s military defence

European Union leaders on Friday promised to strengthen the EU’s military defences, threatened further sanctions on Russia and pledged to “strengthen our bonds and deepen our partnership” with Ukraine as the country embarks on the process to seeking to join the EU.

The leaders also said they would “invest more and better in defence capabilities”, substantially increasing defence spending and promoting co-operation between the military forces of member states.

The leaders are likely to discuss further defence co-operation in a fortnight when they meet in Brussels for a formal summit, it is understood.

In the post-summit statement by the European Council – the group of EU heads of Government which met for the last two days at Versailles, near Paris – EU countries said they would take steps towards “a stronger and more capable EU in the field of security and defence”, enabling member states to engage in “joint projects and joint procurement of defence capabilities”.

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The statement also warned of the need to strengthen the EU’s “cyber resilience”, promised to enhance the security and defence dimension of space industries and activities, and accelerate “ongoing efforts to enhance military mobility throughout the EU”.

The leaders pledged to reduce the bloc’s dependence on Russian oil and gas, but did not set a firm date to end imports. Some countries, notably Germany, rely heavily on Russian gas.

The summit was dominated by the EU’s response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

French president Emmanuel Macron warned of “massive further sanctions” if Russia intensifies its bombing of Ukraine, and said he would speak again to Russian president Vladimir Putin, along with German chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Speaking to reporters after the summit, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he spoke strongly in favour of the union facilitating Ukraine’s pathway to early membership, saying the membership process has been “too slow” for other countries.

“Geopolitically it is important. The world is polarising between authoritarian states and dictators, and democracies that cherish basic values and freedom of speech,” said Mr Martin.

Early Ukraine accession?

There was no better way to demonstrate that than to allow Ukraine early accession.

“Those who are fighting now, they are fighting for the children’s future and they want that future to be in a democratic Europe.”

Mr Martin said there had been an “emotionally compelling presentation” by several EU states that border Ukraine and Russia. He said the EU countries close to Russia were gravely concerned about where Mr Putin might go next.

“They don’t believe he will stop at Ukraine, hence their sense, and the EU sense, that a robust response has to be delivered by the EU in the form of very strong economic sanctions.”

He said wider sanctions would be formally discussed at a council meeting at the end of March, which will be notable for firmer measures being announced.

The 27 heads of state were also being briefed by ECB president Christine Lagarde and the President of the Eurogroup and Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe on the economic implications of the war, the sanctions and refugee crisis.