About: military

CDU party chief enters testing grounds as she takes up defence minister post

In a surprising turn of events, the leader of the German Christian Democrats (CDU), Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, was appointed Germany's new defence minister. While the opposition is unhappy, observers are wondering whether she will do a good job, given that she had opposed  to take cabinet responsibility until recently. EURACTIV Germany reports.

German Socialists list von der Leyen failures in damning paper to EU peers

Germany's Social Democrats have circulated a damning paper to their European political group in which they call Ursula von der Leyen an "inadequate and inappropriate candidate" to lead the European Commission ahead of a vote on her nomination next week.

Ursula von der Leyen’s unfinished cyberagency

Ursula von der Leyen, the European Council's pick for the EU Commission boss, had been setting up her prestigious 'Agency for Innovation in CyberSecurity' in Germany. However, due to concerns raised by the German court of auditors, it will be her successor at the defence ministry who will have to pick up the pieces. EURACTIV Germany reports.

CDU party chief wants Germany to reach 2% NATO spending target

The leader of German Christian Democrats, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer (AKK), stated on Wednesday (12 June) that German military expenditures would have to be raised to NATO's 2% spending target, while former Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel proposed splitting Germany's military spending into two funds. EURACTIV Germany reports.

Weapons research is undermining European democracy

The European Parliament is voting on Thursday (18 April) on the European Defence Fund, a multi-billion military research programme. Not only is this Fund a step in the militarisation of the EU, but it is also undermining European democracy, writes Bram Vranken.

The Brief – The wording war against ‘killer robots’

Killer robots may not speak Spanish as well as Terminator. But they could be as destructive as that famous killing machine with an Austrian accent in the not too distant future.

Europe’s legal U-turn on militarising development policy

Europe’s development policy should stay true to its aims of eradicating poverty and raising people’s quality of life. The increasing military slant of EU development aid is both illegal and inhumane, writes Heidi Hautala.

Russian official: Information war part of ‘battle for the consciousness of the masses’

The new propaganda and cyber-warfare division of Russia’s ministry of defence is staffed by 1,000 people and has a budget of €300 million. Special efforts are being made to target the French presidential election. Euractiv France reports.

Germany to deepen military ties with EU allies

Germany will move forward this week with plans to set up a joint fleet of Lockheed Martin Corp C-130J transport planes with France and join a Netherlands-led fleet of Airbus A330 tanker planes, defence ministry sources said on Monday (13 February).

France, worried by Trump, promises to defend Iran nuclear deal

France vowed on Monday (30 January) to defend Iran's nuclear deal, which US President Donald Trump has threatened to tear up, but said it was imperative Tehran abide strictly by the conditions of the accord.

German minister backs European ‘defence union’

Germany's defence minister called for a European "defence union" on Thursday (8 September) during a visit to the Baltic state of Lithuania, where Berlin is preparing to lead a battle group of about 1,000 troops as a deterrence against neighbouring Russia.

Pakistan invests in nuclear weapons instead of its citizens

The EU should use its diplomatic strength to encourage Pakistan to halt its nuclear build-up, for the good of its own citizens and the peace and stability of the region, writes Barbara Matera.

Lithuania stages ‘little green man’ war games, with eye on Moscow

Lithuania launched a military exercise on Wednesday (6 May) to simulate an attack on its new gas terminal, a move its strongly anti-Moscow president said was intended to show the Kremlin that the tiny country would defend itself. 

Cameron waters down EU defence ambitions at summit

For the first time in five years, EU leaders dedicated a European Council summit to defence policy, which had been kept under the rug during the economic crisis. The outcome was far less ambitious than some member states may have expected, and leaders said in their final conclusions that they would bring up the issue again in the coming year.

EU to launch ‘military eBay’ for defence equipment

Cash-strapped European Union countries, trying to get the most value out of shrinking defence budgets, will soon be able to sell or swap surplus tanks or fighter jets on a new eBay-style electronic marketplace.

Creating Europe’s ‘Plan A’ for North Africa

Europeans managed a respectable initial response: they got themselves smartly on "the right side of history" during the Arab Spring. But 18 months on, there is less cause for satisfaction, say Nick Witney and Anthony Dworkin.

Libya highlights Europe’s defence weakness

Low defence spending is undermining both Europe's ability to guarantee its own security and relations with the United States, argues Michael Berendt.