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Pevkur at defence ministers' meeting in Poland: the EU has created opportunities, now we must implement them

Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Defence

7. April 2025 - 13:25

European Union defence ministers met today in Warsaw to discuss expanding military support to Ukraine, security guarantees, and options for increasing EU defence spending in light of the recently published EU Defence White Paper.

"The best way to ensure that Ukraine achieves a just and lasting peace is to provide swift and increased military aid now, enabling them to enter negotiations from the strongest possible position. We support the High Representative's initiative to supply Ukraine with ammunition—this now requires urgent decisions and implementation," said Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur, who took part in the meeting.

The EU Defence White Paper clearly and unequivocally states that Russia is a threat to European security and that Europe must strengthen its defence readiness. "The European Commission says that defence readiness must grow over the next five years, but that doesn't mean we have five years to wait. We must act immediately—funds need to reach defence and industry now. It is crucial to invest in air defence, long-range capabilities, ammunition, and drones. These are also the capabilities most needed by NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe for the implementation of NATO's defence plans," explained Minister Pevkur.

"It is also welcome from Estonia's perspective that the White Paper highlights the importance of protecting the EU's external border. Both border defence and the development of defence industrial production capacity enhance European defence capability and should be eligible priorities for EU support measures."

The European Commission's ReArm initiative, which can bring an additional €800 billion to defence, is divided into two parts: €650 billion allows Member States to borrow for defence spending without being constrained by budget deficit rules, and €150 billion will be borrowed directly by the EU through the new SAFE mechanism. This mechanism could offer Member States more favourable loan conditions and encourage the procurement of European-made products.

"It is important that the SAFE loan mechanism remains flexible and open to like-minded partners and NATO allies. We must not impose borrowing restrictions on ourselves that could hinder the rapid enhancement of defence capability and interoperability with allies who contribute to European security," said Minister Pevkur.

On the sidelines of the defence ministers' meeting, Minister Pevkur also met with Italian Minister of Defence Guido Crosetto to discuss bilateral defence cooperation.

Ahead of the defence ministers' meeting, a high-level conference was held in Warsaw on 2 April to present the details of the White Paper and to discuss the development and financing of defence capabilities in the European Union.