Call for a 'war economy' in Europe: 'Our turn will come'
European Council President Charles Michel has called on European countries to increase their production of weapons and ammunition.
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Charles Michel said in a statement on Monday that the EU must review its military strategy and significantly increase defense production to assist Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. The European Council President made these remarks at a time when Kyiv is increasingly warning about ammunition shortages.
In an op-ed published by the newspaper La Libre Belgique and the website Euractiv, Michel claimed that Moscow is 'a serious military threat to the European continent and global security.'
Michel added, "If the EU's response is not correct and we do not provide Ukraine with enough support to stop Russia, our turn will come."
The European Council President stated, "For decades, Europe has not invested enough in our security and defense, and now we urgently need a radical and irreversible shift in our thinking towards a strategic security mindset."
Stating that defense production in the EU bloc has increased by 50% since the start of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022, Michel added that the bloc "will double its ammunition production by the end of next year, exceeding 2 million shells annually."
Commentary in the international press regarding Michel's article also included views that the EU has begun to partially implement a 'war economy.'