EU to boost joint defence spending

The EU yesterday unveiled ambitious plans to boost joint defence spending including on shared assets like drones and helicopters, as concerns grow that President-elect Donald Trump may downgrade the US security commitment.

Trump shocked longtime NATO allies in Europe when he suggested on the campaign trail be would think twice about coming to their aid if they had not paid their defence dues.

That prospect, combined with the Ukraine and migrant crises plus nuclear-armed Britain's shock vote to quit the European Union, have moved security sharply up the bloc's agenda.

"If Europe does not take care of its own security, nobody else will do it for us," European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker said in a statement as the plans were announced.

"A strong, competitive and innovative defence industrial base is what will give us strategic autonomy," said Juncker, who has long pushed for a more active EU military role and ultimately what he calls a "European Army".

To stand on its own two feet, the EU "must invest in the common development of technologies and equipment of strategic importance -- from land, air, sea and space capabilities to cyber security," he said.

What is known as the European Defence Action Plan targets more efficient defence spending and increased joint research and procurement.

- 'Competitive defence market' -

It proposes increasing the current 25 million euros ($27 million) allocated to defence research in the overall EU budget to 90 million euros by 2020, when it should be replaced by a dedicated programme worth 500 million annually.

Another fund, potentially worth five billion euros per year, would help member states acquire military assets jointly so as to reduce the cost, the statement said, citing as examples drones or helicopters.

This would strengthen what it referred to as the "Single Market for Defence" -- putting it on a par with the EU's other single markets which aim to break down national barriers, be it in telecoms or energy.