Lithuanian Andrius Kubilius was appointed on Tuesday 17 September to the new post of European Union (EU) Commissioner for Defence and Space, a central portfolio as Brussels seeks to rearm in the face of the Russian threat.
Former Lithuanian Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius has been an active member of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee in recent years, working in particular on the European Union’s (EU) relations with Russia. He was re-elected as an MEP in the June 2024 elections.
According to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Andrius Kubilius “will work to develop the European Defence Union and to stimulate our investments in industrial capacity[européenne]».
In recent months, Vilnius has been hoping that Andrius Kubilius’s track record and Lithuania’s clear position in favor of Ukraine would allow him to obtain a portfolio related to foreign policy.
EU defence funds and programmes: how to find your way around them?
Since the start of the war in Ukraine, the EU has multiplied its defence programmes and funds, with the aim of stimulating collaboration at different stages of the equipment life cycle: research, development, production, purchases and deliveries to third countries.
A colossal task
At the start of her previous term, Ursula von der Leyen created a new Directorate-General – Defence, Industry and Space (DEFIS) – to work on the Union’s defence industrial policy, which at the time was mainly focused on research and development.
The creation of the new portfolio comes as Russia invaded Ukrainian territory, and the war has exposed the chronic shortage of munitions and equipment affecting European armies.
Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton, who was in charge of the defence industry for five years, focused on strengthening joint arms purchases and worked to strengthen military production capacities in order to develop the arms industry on the continent.
Andrius Kubilius’s task will be to determine what the Union really needs to strengthen its defence capabilities, information that is usually jealously kept secret by member states, who consider it to be their national competence.
He will also handle the negotiations and implementation of the new European Defence Investment Programme (EDIP), a project designed to increase production capacities, create reserves and encourage the purchase of products manufactured in the EU rather than in third countries.
He will also have to find the resources needed to build up the European defence industry and implement the EU’s largest military expenditure since the Second World War.
EU states have pledged to spend more on defence, but the results of these investments are not yet visible. The European Commission is studying ways to finance these projects, but has not yet presented detailed proposals on this subject.
Lack of clarity on the portfolio
But the areas of competence of the Commissioner for Defence and Space still need to be limited, so as not to encroach on those of the other commissioners.
The Commission President spoke of “Defence”, omitting the “Industry” aspect. This could suggest that the Commissioner-designate could override national governments and the EU’s foreign policy chief.
In fact, the scope of Andrius Kubilius’ responsibilities remains vague, as does the division of tasks with Kaja Kallas who, in accordance with the EU treaties, is responsible for the Union’s foreign and defence policy.
In this capacity, the latter chairs intergovernmental forums such as the Councils of Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defence and the European Defence Agency (EDA), which are at the origin of policy development in the field.
For some experts, this appointment could therefore lead to a long-term skills struggle.
According to the Belgian think tank European Policy Center (EPC), the Commissioner’s tasks will not only be able to focus on defence, but will also cover four levels: ” industry, investments, societal and structural aspectss ».
For the Charlemagne Group, however, defence remains Andrius Kubilius’ main task. Even if, as the think tank Bruegel points out in its memo to the new commissioner, the latter “commands no army”.
[Édité par Laurent Geslin]
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