On Monday, 3 February, an informal retreat will bring together the 27 leaders of the EU with the leaders of the UK and NATO, to discuss Europe’s much vaunted boost on defence.
Today EU leaders will meet in Brussels for an informal retreat to discuss how to strengthen EU’s defence capabilities. Radio Schuman gives you a preview of the event, with an analysis with Euronews reporter Alice Tidey.
The urgency was sparked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and intensified by Donald Trump’s call for NATO members to spend 5% of GDP on defence—double the current target. This demand raises concerns among European governments already facing budget deficits.
In an interview with Euronews, the president of the European Council António Costa noted that since 2021, European defence investments have risen by 30%. He also highlighted that since 2014, 23 NATO countries have increased defence spending, collectively meeting the 2% target. However, he acknowledged that each country has its own budget priorities and urged leaders to focus on efficient joint investments.
Radio Schuman also covers the meeting of a new European parliamentary committee in Brussels and the latest Eurostat data on online education.
Radio Schuman is hosted and produced by Maïa de la Baume, with journalist and production assistant Eleonora Vasques, audio editing by Johan Breton. Music by Alexandre Jas.
