2025 must be the year of the arms manufacture in Europe. (...) The elimination of bureaucratic adversities, the tightening of European ranks – said Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz after gathering with defence ministers: Germany, large Britain, France and Italy. The German Patriot launchers will most likely defend the airport in Rzeszów-Jasionka from January.
A gathering of heads of defence departments of European states, which in NATO spend the most resources on defence, was held in Helenów close Warsaw. It was another circular of joint talks between Polish, German, British, French and Italian ministers.
– We are in a minute where Ukraine needs our support very much. And we realize that the fatigue of the war of our societies, but especially of Ukrainian society, this large effort, which the Ukrainians have been carrying out for over a 1000 days fighting for their freedom, but besides for safety in Europe, must continue," said Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamish. He explained that during the first part of the E5 Group meeting, the Minister of Defence of Ukraine Rustem Umierov participated in the talks via video connection. Politicians declared further support for Kiev, besides in transferring military equipment and training soldiers. – Above all, the main point of the conversation was the improvement of production capacity between Europe and Ukraine, between our companies and Ukrainians – indicated the head of the Polish MON. And he added: "These opportunities are already exhausted today. And this could be immense support for the fighting Ukraine.
Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz pointed out the request to standardise procedures and simplify rules for the arms industry. He added that the arms manufacture should be the driving force behind European economies and relations between countries. He stressed the strategical function of Britain here. "The arms manufacture can be the basis of fresh relations between the EU and the UK," he said. – We will coordinate defence actions between our countries. Europe must show its strength," he pointed out. And he announced that 2025 must be the year of the arms manufacture in Europe. He said: "The tighter the European ranks," he said.
Magdalena Miernicka, Marcin Kopeć/ZbronnaTV
Defence ministers confirmed alliance commitments to each another and transatlantic relations with US partners. The head of the Polish MON stressed the importance of supporting European defence potential. And as he added, that was the second part of the meeting. Kosiniak-Kamish announced that for 2026 joint manoeuvres of the European 5 troops with NATO were planned. He pointed out that this subject would be discussed at the next E5 Group gathering in Paris, including the NATO Secretary-General, the EU advanced typical for abroad Affairs and safety Policy and the EU Defence Commissioner.
The head of the German Defence Ministry Boris Pistorius reported that working groups were set up to work between E5 Group meetings. As he stressed, there is no time to waste on supporting Ukrainian manufacture or speeding up purchases. During the press conference, the question was as to erstwhile German Patriot batteries would be deployed in Rzeszów, where an airport and a metastatic base for military equipment headed from the West to Ukraine were located. Deputy Prime Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz pointed out that since January a greater function in securing the port of Rzeszów-Jasionka took over NATO. He added that the last details were agreed. Minister Boris Pistorius admitted that everyone is aware of the importance of the Reich as a logistical hub in the context of supporting Ukraine. He announced that in January he was going to Rzeszow to guarantee that German Patriot defence systems would appear there later this month. Let us remind that the German Patriots were already stationed in Poland in 2023 in support of the east flank of NATO. Their task was to defend Polish airspace in the southeast of Warsaw.
The French defence minister Sebastien Lecornu, in turn, spoke about the spending of 2% of GDP on defence by the associate States of the European Union. He pointed out that peculiar attention should be paid to what is being spent on, as the European taxpayer's money should be spent on weapons produced on the continent.
Today's gathering was another 1 in this format. The erstwhile 1 was held last November in Berlin. The focus of the group's deliberations is to coordinate efforts to build an alliance safety system, support for the fighting Ukraine, the request for cooperation between defence industries and to increase defence backing and military spending,
Prior to the gathering in Helenów Kosiniak-Kamish besides held bilateral talks with French Minister Lecorn. The subject was further support for Ukraine, cooperation within the EU and NATO, and bilateral initiatives for security.
