European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday urged higher defence expenditure in an address to European Union lawmakers in the French city of Strasbourg.
“Russia is spending up to 9% of its GDP [gross domestic product] on defence. Europe is spending on average 1.9%. There is something wrong in this equation,” she said, ahead of a confirmation vote for her new team of EU commissioners.
“Our defence spending must increase,” von der Leyen added.
“War is raging on Europe’s borders … We have no time to waste, and we must be as ambitious as the threats are serious.”
