Within the European Union, discussions are presently taking place concerning the potential creation of a new role: the EU Commissioner for Defence.
While decisions regarding the composition and role of the Commission will be determined by the new president, it has been confirmed that President von der Leyen is highly supportive of the proposal.
It is expected that von der Leyen will announce her intention to seek a second term during a political meeting with her party, the CDU, in Germany on Monday.
If she secures the approval of EU member states for another term at the helm of the Commission, she will then decide on the allocation of portfolios in her future team, including the potential position in the defence sector.
Responding to inquiries about plans to create the position of Commissioner for Defence, an EU diplomat stated, “I would be surprised if they didn’t do this. A significant financial package may be directed towards defence. Therefore, you will need someone to oversee it.”
According to the publication, contenders for the position of the new Commissioner include the Polish Foreign Minister, Radosław Sikorski, or the Prime Minister of Estonia, Kaja Kallas.
“There is growing understanding that Europe must do much more in the field of defence. So, we will most likely see something with that title. But what exactly will be included in it will be the subject of heated debates,” a source told the publication.
One of the competencies of the new Commissioner for Defence could be the EU’s role in industrial policy, aimed at meeting common needs in ammunition and investing EU funds in arms development programs distributed among several countries.
Before her appointment as President of the European Commission, 65-year-old Ursula von der Leyen headed the German Ministry of Defence.
It is expected that her candidacy for re-appointment to her current top position in the EU executive body will be supported by the majority of member states.
Earlier, Ursula von der Leyen stated that 2024 is a “key year for democracy”, as elections to the European Parliament will take place against the backdrop of serious challenges facing the continent, primarily due to Russian aggression against Ukraine.
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Previewing the forthcoming Defence Ministers’ meetings, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg disclosed that since the inception of the Defence Investment Pledge in 2014, European Allies and Canada have collectively injected over $600 billion into defence.
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