The EU's Defense Industry Strategy (EDIS) should include Ukraine - its needs and industrial potential, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Thursday at the annual conference of the European Defense Agency, UNN reports.
A strategic approach to our defense industry should take into account the issue of Ukraine's defense capabilities, in addition to our own needs. Our strategy can only be complete if it takes into account Ukraine's needs and industrial potential. The first step to achieve this goal is to involve Ukraine in the consultation process on the industrial strategy. This should lead to the integration of Ukraine into some of our defense programs, if necessary with the consent of the European Parliament and the European Council. This will not only help us meet Ukraine's defense needs. It would also promote rapprochement and joint planning between our armed forces and defense industry,
She emphasized that "Ukraine is a future member of our Union". "It should become much closer to us, much faster. And we have to use all our tools to make it happen," the European Commission President said.