“We need to move forward with the idea of ​​a European army,” says the head of the presidential majority list in the European elections

Valérie Hayer was the guest of “8h30 franceinfo” this Monday March 11, 2024.

“We need to move forward with the idea of ​​a European army”supports Valérie Hayer, head of the presidential majority list in the European elections, president of the Renew group in the European Parliament on franceinfo, Monday March 11, as the conflict bogs down in Ukraine.

It’s necessary “working together to strengthen our military production capabilities”, she assures. “We have to rearm” she clarified. The MEP pleads for “more military integration on defense issues”. It’s necessary “working together to strengthen our military production capabilities”she assures, regretting that, for the moment, the 27 member countries of the EU have “different military production”.

“Send a clear message to Vladimir Putin”

The candidate thus joins the position of the European Commission which proposed on Tuesday March 5 to drastically strengthen the EU defense industry in the face of the Russian threat. Europeans must “step up a gear”European Commissioner Thierry Breton, responsible for defense industries in Brussels, told the press.

The defense of the European Union, “it’s our DNA”, she maintains, two days after launching her campaign in Lille on Saturday. Asked about the debate and the vote which must take place in the National Assembly this Tuesday on the French aid strategy for Ukraine, Valérie Hayer insists on the importance of a “full support for Ukraine”. “We must also send a clear message to Vladimir Putin, who only understands the balance of power”, she continued. Emmanuel Macron has strengthened his speech in recent weeks with regard to the Kremlin, affirming that we should not pose “no limit” in France’s support for Ukraine, after having raised the possibility of sending soldiers to this country. “We will go to the end, we will be alongside the Ukrainians to the end and that can involve sending deminers and trainers,” launches the MEP.