The European Court of Auditors (ECA) has noted that, despite increased military spending in the European Union, achieving strategic autonomy by 2030 presents a significant challenge. This goal is essential for conducting high-intensity military operations without external dependence.
An ECA report highlights several obstacles facing the European defense industry, including years of insufficient investment, a high reliance on suppliers outside the EU, and a lack of coordination among member states. This contributes to fragmentation and deficiencies in military capabilities, even though defense spending has increased considerably. It is estimated that the joint spending of the 27 countries will rise by 78.6% between 2020 and 2025, with budgets expected to grow from €262 billion in 2022 to €454 billion in 2024.
Nonetheless, the ECA warns that increased spending does not automatically guarantee greater military capability. Issues such as inflation in the defense sector, long manufacturing lead times, and shortages of materials and specialized personnel hinder the conversion of financial resources into operational capacity. Marek Opiola, a member of the court, emphasizes the importance of seizing new opportunities and paying attention to existing risks, reiterating that achieving the 2030 goal remains a challenge.
Criticism also centers on planning, as unlike NATO, the EU employs a bottom-up approach where member states identify their needs without a coordinated European procedure. This lack of a “top-down” approach could result in fragmented and duplicated investments, adding to bottlenecks in supplying the necessary resources.
Regarding military mobility, the ECA estimates that an investment of €70 billion would be needed to adapt transport infrastructures to military standards. However, current funding is deficient, with only €1.7 billion allocated between 2021 and 2027, and a proposal of €17.7 billion for 2028-2034.
The ECA also mentions the risks associated with increased funding, warning that the growing use of debt for defense acquisitions may impact long-term budget sustainability. The operational complexity, stemming from interactions between member states and other European institutions, may lead to coordination problems and overlapping responsibilities. However, the ECA considers this increase in spending a crucial moment for the European defense industry, which could benefit from improving its production capacity and optimizing investments in research and development.
The lessons learned in collaboration with Ukraine and the development of new cooperation formulas are seen as opportunities to strengthen the European defense industry, suggesting a future better prepared for global challenges.
Source: www.infobae.com
