Germany responded cautiously on Friday to a Polish-Greek proposal for a new European air defense shield.
The initiative was noted, government spokeswoman Christiane Hoffmann said, referring to an existing German project to strengthen Europe’s defenses against air attacks.
Twenty-one countries are involved in the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI), which was set up after Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and aims to close gaps in NATO’s defense shield for Europe.
For example, there are plans to place orders for air defense technology together with the defense industry.
However, Poland and Greece presented an alternative concept for a broad defense shield to the EU leadership on Thursday.
In a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis wrote that a program is needed to strengthen the EU’s overall defense capabilities.
It should also encourage European defense companies to develop breakthrough technologies and become world leaders in their fields.
Developing and financing a comprehensive system to protect EU airspace could send a clear signal that Europe is united and determined to protect itself, the two leaders said.
They also described the EU’s current air defense capabilities as a “major weakness” in the bloc’s security.
The new air defense system could serve as a shield for civilians and armed forces if deterrence fails, they wrote in the letter, which was made available to dpa.
No mention was made of NATO and the German initiative. The two government leaders now want their initiative to be discussed during the next regular EU summit in June.
French President Emmanuel Macron could be a potential key supporter. France has not yet joined the German project because it also favors the acquisition of non-European military technology, for example American Patriot air defense missile systems.
A spokesperson for the German Defense Ministry said on Friday that if the EU wanted to contribute to strengthening European air defense, including through financial support, this would be “more than welcome”.
