Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk called on the European Union to develop a joint air defense system.

And also to allocate at least €100 billion for joint defense amid growing security threats.

Bloomberg reported on this.

The Polish Prime Minister noted that the ongoing debate on strengthening the EU’s defense capabilities should end with a decision in the near future.

“A lot of money spent well and wisely on Europe’s security will keep war away from Europe’s borders for a long time. Perhaps forever,” Tusk said at an economic conference in Katowice.

This opinion was also shared by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. She believes that the EU should “restore, replenish, and transform” its armed forces and supported the Polish Prime Minister’s call for a joint European air defense system.

Tusk also called on the EU to strengthen its external borders, noting that countries need to spend the coming years building up military readiness sufficient to deter potential enemies.

Warsaw has already announced that it wants to join the European Sky Shield Initiative, which currently involves 21 countries.

The initiative was launched by Germany amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Sky Shield aims to reduce the costs of countries by coordinating the procurement of air and missile defense systems. It should also provide cooperation in training, maintenance, and logistics.

Also, the day before, Polish officials proposed that more than €400 billion from the EU’s emergency bailout fund meant for helping member states recover from the pandemic should be put towards building the defense industry to help Ukraine.

Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak Kamysz stated this during the Defence24 Days defense conference.