\n<\/p>\n
Germany on Friday gave a cautious reaction to a Polish-Greek proposal for a new European air defence shield.<\/p>\n
The initiative had been noted, said government spokeswoman Christiane Hoffmann, while referring to an existing German project to strengthen Europe’s defence from aerial attack.<\/p>\n
Twenty-one countries are involved in the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI) devised after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and intended to close gaps in NATO’s defence shield for Europe.<\/p>\n
For example, there are plans to jointly place orders for air-defence technology with the defence industry.<\/p>\n
However, Poland and Greece on Thursday submitted an alternative concept for a broad defence shield to the EU leadership.<\/p>\n
In a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis of Greece wrote that a programme is needed to strengthen the EU’s overall defence capabilities.<\/p>\n
It should also encourage European defence companies to develop cutting-edge technologies and become world leaders in their fields.<\/p>\n
Developing and funding a comprehensive system to protect EU airspace could send a clear signal that Europe is united and determined to protect itself, the two leaders said.<\/p>\n
They also described the EU’s current air-defence capabilities as a “major weakness” in the bloc’s security.<\/p>\n
The new air-defence system could serve as a shield for citizens and armed forces if deterrence fails, they wrote in the letter, which was made available to dpa.<\/p>\n
It made no mention of the NATO and the German initiative. The two heads of government now want their initiative to be discussed at the next regular EU summit in June.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n