European leaders gathered in Paris for an emergency summit on Monday to address pressing issues concerning defense and trade imbalances. The meeting, which is expected to last approximately two hours, comes at a critical time as tensions continue to escalate in Ukraine. The Polish Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, has urged European nations to increase their defense spending to prevent a wider conflict, while the European Chamber's president, Jens Eskelund, highlighted growing trade discrepancies between Europe and China.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk emphasized the importance of defense commitments in a statement on social media, urging Europe not to shy away from making necessary decisions. He warned that if Europe does not act soon, it may face significantly higher costs in the future.
"If we, Europeans, fail to spend big on defence now, we will be forced to spend 10 times more if we don’t prevent a wider war." – Donald Tusk
Poland currently allocates nearly 5% of its GDP to defense, a figure that Tusk insists will continue to rise as necessary.
"As the Polish PM I’m entitled to say it loud and clear, since Poland already spends almost 5% of its GDP on defence. And we will continue to do so." – Donald Tusk
In addition to the defense discussions, Jens Eskelund, president of the European Chamber, drew attention to the growing trade imbalance between Europe and China. He noted that China's exports have surged by 13% while Europe's exports to China have declined by 9% in the same period. Eskelund highlighted the broader implications for global manufacturing economies.
"There’s almost zero growth in the European economy, and still China manages to grow export by 13% in the first 11 months of 2024 which is actually quite spectacular, whereas European exports to China declined by 9%. And Europe is not alone. If you look at other big manufacturing economies, United States, Korea, Japan, Canada, Australia, you know, they also decrease the export of manufactured goods." – Jens Eskelund
The European leaders are also considering the situation in Ukraine. Pope Francis's health remains a concern as he continues to receive treatment for a polymicrobial infection of the respiratory tract, requiring further hospitalization. Meanwhile, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof expressed his willingness to discuss troop deployments to Ukraine but emphasized that any decision would require careful consideration.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz remarked that discussions regarding European troops participating in a peacekeeping force in Ukraine are premature at this stage.
"unfortunately we are still a long way off" that moment, and added that “it’s quite clear that a very strong Ukrainian army, even in peacetime, must be at the core” of any solution. – Olaf Scholz
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson reiterated his country's unwavering support for Ukraine and advocated for increased assistance from Europe.
"What we bring to the talks in Paris is that no discussions should be held about Ukraine without Ukraine and that support for Ukraine needs to be increased and accelerated," – Ulf Kristersson
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez echoed the sentiment for peace while emphasizing the need to uphold international principles.
"Europe wants peace," but one that "preserves the principles on which the international order is based." – Pedro Sánchez
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to Ireland follows his efforts in Munich over the weekend to position China as a friend to Europe. Wang Yi is scheduled to meet with Irish leaders before heading to New York to chair a UN Security Council meeting.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico underscored that European Union officials have no mandate for Monday's talks regarding Europe's role in any Ukraine ceasefire. The issue of troops in Ukraine is primarily for the UN or through bilateral agreements.
As the summit progresses, many leaders are expected to address the media, providing further insights into the discussions held behind closed doors. The convergence of defense and trade issues highlights the complex geopolitical landscape Europe faces today.