Kaja Kallas, the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, has highlighted the lack of compatibility among defense projects across member states, emphasizing the urgent need for enhanced cooperation in joint procurement and innovation.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, citing international media reports, Kallas stated that the primary focus must shift toward innovation and collaborative initiatives to strengthen the bloc's security architecture. "The reality is that there are numerous projects in member states that are incompatible with each other. We must encourage member countries to cooperate more in both joint procurement and innovation," she noted.
Kallas further pointed out that despite significant financial allocations, the defense industry has not sufficiently increased or accelerated production. "We must truly increase our defense production more rapidly. Furthermore, through joint procurement, we must reach a position where we can produce the defense capabilities we need ourselves," she added.
The call for a more integrated European defense strategy comes amid increasing geopolitical tensions and the ongoing push for strategic autonomy within the bloc. Historically, EU defense spending has been fragmented, with various nations maintaining separate supply chains and technical standards, which often leads to inefficiencies during joint operations. Kallas has made the revitalization of the European defense industrial base a cornerstone of her security agenda, aiming to reduce reliance on external suppliers and streamline military interoperability among the member states.
