What are the candidates proposing on defense?

All week, the political brief takes stock of the program of the main candidates for the European elections on June 9. Monday, May 20, we examine the defense proposals.

With the war in Ukraine, defense has emerged as the number one subject in the program of three candidates for the European elections on June 9: the Macronist Valérie Hayer, the head of the PS-Place publique list Raphaël Glucksmann, and the LR François-Xavier Bellamy. These three parties have a common objective: “rearmament Europe”.

To rearm the European continent, Valérie Hayer and Raphaël Glucksmann make a similar proposal: 100 billion euros of investments to develop European defense industries. If the PS candidate writes in black and white that it is necessary “finally build a European defense”the leader of the presidential majority insists on the need not to “no longer depend on others”, while the prospect of a new victory for Donald Trump in the American elections this fall raises fears of a disengagement of the United States from supporting its NATO allies. Valérie Hayer therefore wants to impose on each European country to devote 2% of its GDP to defense by 2025, then 3% by 2030. For LR, François-Xavier Bellamy wants this to be “at least 3%” as soon as possible, while increasing the budget of the European Defense Fund by three. The right-wing candidate also makes this proposal, which is not very detailed at this stage: “prepare young Europeans for the defense of their countries” respective.

Another resolutely pro-European list, that of environmentalists. Marie Toussaint is in favor of a defense Europe to the point of proposing the creation of a position of defense commissioner in the next European Commission. Environmentalists also support the joint purchase of major weapons systems. Like the presidential majority, the PS or LR, environmentalists would like European weapons to be produced in Europe, with an additional concern for the Greens: the decarbonization of the defense forces.

Facing them, there are parties which refuse any idea of ​​European defense. For Jordan Bardella’s National Rally, defense is a question of the sovereignty of each member state. The RN only advocates military cooperation between European countries. On the side of Reconquête!, Marion Maréchal rejects any creation “European army”. The only point of agreement between the far-right parties and their rivals is that European countries should not obtain military equipment from outside the European Union.

For the Insoumis too, defense is a question of national sovereignty. In Manon Aubry’s program, Europe of defense is also described as “lark mirror”. The guiding principle of LFI is that France carries the voice of “the peace” in conflicts, and above all refuses the slightest alignment with NATO and the United States.