22
Jan
2025
Watch
Uniting Europe against actors hostile to the EU: time to strengthen our security and defence (topical debate)
Mr President, the military threat, hybrid influencing in the Baltic Sea and electoral influencing by tech giants: Europe faces many threats. We must be able to respond to these threats with credibility and determination. The strengthening of security and defence must take into account society as a whole, from civilians to defence. The EU must be able to stand on its own feet without dependencies on external technology or US military support. For too long we have been relying on the help of an outsider in crisis situations. This will no longer work, as the focus of the United States has shifted away from Europe. We in Finland know that real security must be built by ourselves. The EU must therefore invest in a cross-border defence industry and in the development of overall security. We need to build European security together and independently.