EU member states have already spent more than 200 billion euros on weapons, four times as much as Russia. Nonetheless, Europe's defense capabilities lag far behind other nations due to lack of interoperability and structural duplication among European armed forces, as well as inefficient use of available resources. In addition to the frequent calls for a reform of the procurement system of the German Armed Forces, tighter integration and greater unification of the forces within the coalition are also essential.
Since the start of the Russian invasion, the EU has found new unity and adopted the most comprehensive sanctions package in its history. In addition, for the first time, it has delivered defensive weapons to crisis areas. In the past, shocking moments like the Fax List Ukraine war have been catalysts for further integration within the EU. For example, following the annexation of Crimea in 2014, the Permanent Structural Cooperation Organization (PESCO), the Coordinated Annual Defence Review (CARD) and the European Defence Fund (EDF) were launched.
Just this March, the EU took another important step towards strengthening cooperation in the fields of security and defence by adopting the Strategic Guidelines as the new basic document of EU security policy. Among other things, the Strategic Guidance provides for the creation of an EU intervention force that should be operational by 2025. German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht has proposed that her country's armed forces provide the core of the rapid intervention force's activities in the first year. Thus, Germany is sending an important signal to its European partners that it is ready to assume greater responsibilities within the framework of the EU's common security and defense policy. Create an EU intervention force that should be operational by 2025.