The request of Athens and Warsaw for the creation of a joint air defense shield to be financed by the EU was mentioned today by the president of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen and EPP candidate for a second term in the presidency of the Commission, during the teleconference with the main candidates of four political groups.

Ursula von der Leyen stressed that Europe needs to improve its defense industry and the next Commission should start joint defense projects. He cited as an example the “anti-aircraft shield for all” proposed in a joint letter by the Greek Prime Minister, K. Mitsotakis and the Polish Prime Minister, D. Tusk.

The discussion then turned to the war in Ukraine, with the President of the Commission stressing that work must continue both on its military support and on strengthening the European defense industry.

The candidate of the Liberals (Renew Europe), Italy’s Sandro Gozzi, advocated the issuance of Eurobonds to support investment in European industry and defense and directly asked the candidate of the EPP, Ursula von der Leyen, if she agreed. Von der Leyen replied that the options are either more national contributions or more EU own resources and defended the need to work for new own resources in the EU to finance defence.

For her part, the Green candidate, 37-year-old German Terri Redke, also defended a European defense fund. He argued that in matters of security and foreign policy there should be an “end” to unanimity in the Council, so that “guys” like Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban cannot veto.

The European Socialist candidate, Luxembourg’s Nicolas Schmitt, argued for the need to invest in defense without forgetting social cohesion. “Security is obviously about defence, but it’s also about internal cohesion. Investments in both sectors are possible,” he said. Regarding Ukraine, he emphasized that if we do not strongly support it, the Russians will be at our borders.

For the candidate of the European Left, the Austrian Walter Bayer, the biggest threat to security is the ecological disaster. He emphasized that what Europe needs are ecological answers, social solutions, disarmament and peace. On Ukraine, Mr Bayer said the European Left wanted a safe and sovereign country with secure borders that would rebuild and called for its debt to be cancelled. “Throwing down the gauntlet” to the EPP candidate, Mr Bayer said: “I’m surprised that we’re standing here talking about peace and security and nobody mentions Gaza and Israel. When will the EU impose sanctions on Israel to stop the carnage in Gaza?’

Ursula von der Leyen responded that the situation in the Gaza Strip is “dramatic” and “devastating” and stressed that the EU has quadrupled its aid to civilians. She added that we should not forget October 7 and the brutal attack by Hamas, reiterated her position that Israel has the right to defend itself, but respecting international humanitarian law, and expressed her support for the two-state solution.

immigration

The debate also focused on immigration issues, with Socialist candidate N. Schmidt criticizing the EU-Tunisia deal. “If we look at what is happening in Tunisia, what is happening to the refugees who are being pushed into the desert, who are being beaten and some are being murdered, this is not Europe, these are not European values,” said the Socialist candidate.

The Green candidate, for her part, condemned the toxicity of the debates in the member states, which do not provide solutions “for an aging Europe” and supported new legal avenues. He argued that we need a “resilient” asylum system to stop chaos at external borders. He also stressed that the deaths in the Mediterranean must stop and added that we must fight in this term for a European search and rescue mission in the Mediterranean.

For S. Goji from the Liberals, “when people are in danger at sea we save them” and do not ask about their status. He argued that after the new asylum and migration pact was approved, “legal pathways” should now be opened for those who can meet Europe’s workforce needs.

For B. Bayer from the European Left, social security and the integration of these people into the labor market is necessary if we want to be in solidarity and welcome them with decent conditions.

EPP candidate Ursula von der Leyen said that with the new pact on migration and asylum adopted, it is the EU that will decide who comes and under what terms and conditions, not the traffickers. “Those who are eligible to stay will stay and those who are not eligible will return. There should be a legal and safe way for them to come to the EU,” he added.