06:40European Union High Representative Josep Borrell warned that the bloc is surrounded by an 'arc of fire', noting the Ukraine conflict is a 'wake-up call' and the threat from escalating conflicts in the Middle East, during his speech at the 4th European Defence and Security Conference in Brussels on Wednesday.
"Europe was in danger, and many people believe that this was a kind of market slogans, something that you'd say in order to make people listen to you," said Borrell, adding "Look at our environment, from Ukraine to the Caucasus, to the Middle East, to Sudan, to Sahel, we are surrounded by an arc of fire from Gibraltar to the Baltic."
He also expressed concern over a possible nuclear clash between Israel and Iran amid fierce fighting across the region, remarking that it would be 'really, really dangerous' for Europe if a wider war were to break out.
The high representative also mentioned the enduring contribution of the US to EU security, which he warned 'is becoming more and more uncertain'. Borrell said this is leading European nations to overcome the 'politically-fragmented' environment to 'prepare the defence capabilities of tomorrow.'
"500 billion for the decade means 50 billion per year. It's quite an amount of money. Maybe not too much according to our needs. Where will this money come from? Can we wait for the next multi-year financial framework? 2028? Can we wait four years for that? I don't think so," he remarked.
Borrell also discussed the EU’s support for Ukraine over the coming winter, calling for member states to shore up funding for Kiev, while stressing that "the war in Ukraine is a wake-up call, but you can be waking up and not getting out of bed."
"Just on military support 42 (billion euros), and it is increasing. We'll reach 45 quickly before the end of the year. It's not as much as the US, but certainly, it's not a negligible figure," he noted. "The important thing for us today is to continue providing Ukraine with electricity generators but avoid that the generator that we have provided today is not going to be destroyed tomorrow," he added.
Moscow launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February 2022 after recognising the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and the US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.
'Ukraine was a wake-up call!' - Borrell says EU surrounded by 'arc of fire', warns Middle East escalation 'really dangerous' for Europe
European Union High Representative Josep Borrell warned that the bloc is surrounded by an 'arc of fire', noting the Ukraine conflict is a 'wake-up call' and the threat from escalating conflicts in the Middle East, during his speech at the 4th European Defence and Security Conference in Brussels on Wednesday.
"Europe was in danger, and many people believe that this was a kind of market slogans, something that you'd say in order to make people listen to you," said Borrell, adding "Look at our environment, from Ukraine to the Caucasus, to the Middle East, to Sudan, to Sahel, we are surrounded by an arc of fire from Gibraltar to the Baltic."
He also expressed concern over a possible nuclear clash between Israel and Iran amid fierce fighting across the region, remarking that it would be 'really, really dangerous' for Europe if a wider war were to break out.
The high representative also mentioned the enduring contribution of the US to EU security, which he warned 'is becoming more and more uncertain'. Borrell said this is leading European nations to overcome the 'politically-fragmented' environment to 'prepare the defence capabilities of tomorrow.'
"500 billion for the decade means 50 billion per year. It's quite an amount of money. Maybe not too much according to our needs. Where will this money come from? Can we wait for the next multi-year financial framework? 2028? Can we wait four years for that? I don't think so," he remarked.
Borrell also discussed the EU’s support for Ukraine over the coming winter, calling for member states to shore up funding for Kiev, while stressing that "the war in Ukraine is a wake-up call, but you can be waking up and not getting out of bed."
"Just on military support 42 (billion euros), and it is increasing. We'll reach 45 quickly before the end of the year. It's not as much as the US, but certainly, it's not a negligible figure," he noted. "The important thing for us today is to continue providing Ukraine with electricity generators but avoid that the generator that we have provided today is not going to be destroyed tomorrow," he added.
Moscow launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February 2022 after recognising the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and the US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.
European Union High Representative Josep Borrell warned that the bloc is surrounded by an 'arc of fire', noting the Ukraine conflict is a 'wake-up call' and the threat from escalating conflicts in the Middle East, during his speech at the 4th European Defence and Security Conference in Brussels on Wednesday.
"Europe was in danger, and many people believe that this was a kind of market slogans, something that you'd say in order to make people listen to you," said Borrell, adding "Look at our environment, from Ukraine to the Caucasus, to the Middle East, to Sudan, to Sahel, we are surrounded by an arc of fire from Gibraltar to the Baltic."
He also expressed concern over a possible nuclear clash between Israel and Iran amid fierce fighting across the region, remarking that it would be 'really, really dangerous' for Europe if a wider war were to break out.
The high representative also mentioned the enduring contribution of the US to EU security, which he warned 'is becoming more and more uncertain'. Borrell said this is leading European nations to overcome the 'politically-fragmented' environment to 'prepare the defence capabilities of tomorrow.'
"500 billion for the decade means 50 billion per year. It's quite an amount of money. Maybe not too much according to our needs. Where will this money come from? Can we wait for the next multi-year financial framework? 2028? Can we wait four years for that? I don't think so," he remarked.
Borrell also discussed the EU’s support for Ukraine over the coming winter, calling for member states to shore up funding for Kiev, while stressing that "the war in Ukraine is a wake-up call, but you can be waking up and not getting out of bed."
"Just on military support 42 (billion euros), and it is increasing. We'll reach 45 quickly before the end of the year. It's not as much as the US, but certainly, it's not a negligible figure," he noted. "The important thing for us today is to continue providing Ukraine with electricity generators but avoid that the generator that we have provided today is not going to be destroyed tomorrow," he added.
Moscow launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February 2022 after recognising the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and the US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.