11
Mar
2025
Watch
White paper on the future of European defence (debate)
Mr President, Commissioner, some of us - like you and me - have been calling for more defence spending in this European Union for years. Now we have all joined, good thing, it was time. Let's see if this finally allows Europe to defend its welfare system as well. Thank you very much for the White Paper and for the millions that will accompany this whole affair. Time, as I say, will tell us if we are in time to defend ourselves without giving up this welfare state. The doubts that are now exploited by populists and the far left could have been resolved if action had been taken earlier. But the President of the Commission and the previous High Representative have been silent and have collaborated to cover the lack of fulfilment of our defence duties in the past in countries such as my own, Spain. It is no longer about spending money to maintain a good relationship with Maduro, it is no longer about paying the regional police more than the Spanish Army; It is certainly now about spending on defending our welfare system. Let's see how they explain it to their communist and pro-independence partners. I want to see them there.