European Commission President Proposes Creation of European Security Council to Enhance European Defense Capabilities

Brussels, Sept 16 (KUNA) – European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed on Wednesday the creation of a European Security Council, involving European countries and partners including the United Kingdom and Ukraine, to enhance cooperation on the continent’s security amid rising risks and threats.

In her annual address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, on the state of the European Union, von der Leyen said, “For a long time, we have discussed a format that brings together leaders focused on the security of our continent, with the participation of partners such as Canada, Norway, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and others.” She added, “This has become more urgent now given the nature and scale of existing risks, and for this reason we will put forward our ideas to make a European Security Council a reality.”

Addressing hybrid threats facing Europe, von der Leyen stressed the need for a unified European mechanism to deal with them, stating, “We urgently need consensus on how to respond to specific incidents—those that do not amount to armed aggression but clearly threaten our national security.” She announced her intention to establish an “emergency security protocol” that would allow any EU member state to call for urgent talks in the event of a crisis.

On the Ukraine issue, von der Leyen affirmed that the European Union would strengthen its support for Kyiv as Russia escalates its bombing ahead of winter. She said, “Together with our partners, we will provide humanitarian aid and enhance Ukraine’s energy and heating supplies.” She also confirmed that Europe would intensify efforts to develop its own core military capabilities, announcing a “new European Strategic Enablers Tool.” (End) A.R.N. / M.N.F.