Latest news with #Kubilius
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
What Would a 'Drone Wall' to Shield Europe's Borders Look Like?
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. It is still an "unanswered question" whether countries running along NATO's eastern flank are prepared to defend against drone attacks, the European Commission's defense and space chief has said. Lithuania, a Baltic state staring down Russia, should construct a "drone wall" with its neighbors, former Lithuanian Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius told the country's LRT broadcaster. "It's not just about producing or stockpiling drones today," Kubilius said. "We need trained teams ready to rapidly manufacture the necessary number of drones at a moment's notice, tailored to the needs of a drone wall." Russia's war on Ukraine has changed the drone game, making skillful wielding of uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) an absolute must for modern armed forces. On the front lines in Ukraine, drones are being tweaked and upgraded every few weeks. As drones rapidly evolve, so too must the defenses designed to shield against the threat UAVs, as well as drones in the water or crossing on land, can pose. An instructor launches a drone during a training course for members of the Russian Navy's Pacific Fleet's assault units in Primorsky Krai, Russia, on July 15, 2025. An instructor launches a drone during a training course for members of the Russian Navy's Pacific Fleet's assault units in Primorsky Krai, Russia, on July 15, 2025. Vitaliy Ankov / Sputnik via AP A drone crossed into Lithuanian airspace from Belarus, a key Russian ally, on July 10. The drone crashed close to the border as senior officials headed for shelters, domestic media reported. "This incident shows that the possibility of a drone entering Lithuanian territory is real," Kubilius said. Vilnius lodged a "strong protest" with Minsk, according to local reports. "Our message is that this is serious," said Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys. The concept of a "drone wall" isn't new, but its exact form along the eastern flank of NATO remains unclear. Lithuania's then-Interior Minister, Agnė Bilotaitė, said in May 2024 that a "drone border" would be established, stretching from Norway to Poland. The drones will add to physical barriers and surveillance systems to "allow us to also protect ourselves from provocations by unfriendly countries," Bilotaitė said at the time. The "wall" will also employ counter-drone technology, regional media reported at the time. It would essentially focus on ensuring that an enemy like Russia cannot operate effectively in a specific area, known as the "kill box" or "killing area," Ed Arnold, a senior research fellow in European security at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) think tank, told Newsweek. Drones could be placed on the border, including in concealed spots, while mixed in with artillery, Arnold said. Ukraine's Defense Ministry said earlier this year that President Volodymyr Zelensky had launched a "large-scale project" known as the "drone line," designed to carve out a "kill zone" of up to 15 kilometers. The "drone line" would be built using UAVs, electronic warfare systems, different types of vehicles and other equipment, Kyiv said. Several initiatives are underway to bolster NATO defenses in the east. The three Baltic States of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia signed an agreement in January 2024 to beef up protection along their land borders with Russia and Belarus, known as the Baltic Defense Line. Poland has its own program, dubbed East Shield. Anti-tank defenses, like mines and concrete blocks known as dragon's teeth, also occupy NATO territory close to Russian soil. Earlier this year, the European Commission rejected funding for the drone wall. Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas said that the country would need to build up the capability on a national level. "Europe is large, interests differ, and sometimes what is a sore point and crucial for us is not so much for Europe," Paluckas said, according to Lithuanian media.
Euronews
08-07-2025
- Business
- Euronews
Can the EU jet itself into the space race?
The global space economy was valued at €572 billion in 2023, according to the European Space Agency, and it is estimated to reach €1.6 trillion in a decade. The main focus of the new EU Space Act is launchers and satellites, which are increasingly important for activities as diverse as communications, navigation, meteorology and renewable energy. However, Europe lags far behind the US and has spent just €12 billion in public funding on the space industry, compared with €65 billion in the US. The same applies to private investment: €980 million in the EU, compared with €3.6 billion in the US. This will be a hot topic during negotiations for the future European Competitiveness Fund, within the scope of the 2028-2034 EU budget, which covers the space sector which will be looking for more money on the table. "Now the whole allocation for space is around €17 billion. We know that we need more just to keep using the existing systems," European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius told Euronews. "We want also to simplify life for those who are engaging in the space industry and be ready for the revolution that is coming," Kubilius added in an interview. Security and defence in space The Space Act will create a common set of rules across the EU, with the main pillars being security and resilience, to minimise the risk of collisions, cyber-attacks and other interference from hostile powers. The 'rules of the road' will seek to bring order to the 11,000 satellites already deployed and the 50,000 new satellites planned for the next decade, as well as the 128 million pieces of space debris floating in orbit around Earth. "Space is seen as the new frontier, a contested zone, where cyber attacks or electronic interference against satellites or ground stations, for example, can occur. This could lead to the loss of satellites or the services they provide, so there will be new rules for risk assessment," explained Gregoire Lory, who covers space policy for Euronews. The new law does not apply to military uses, but a European Space Strategy for Security and Defence has existed since 2023, presented not long after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The goal is to devise how to protect space systems, their supporting ground infrastructure and the data connections between them, including through joint space exercises. "We have several very good satellite systems like Galileo (and) Copernicus. And now we are building IRIS2 for secure satellite communication. In order to service those systems in space, we need to have a good transport system, which Ariane 6 is doing. But when we're looking into what is coming, we understand that it is not enough. We need to build new capacities," admitted Commissioner Kubilius. Watch the video here! Journalist: Isabel Marques da Silva Content production: Pilar Montero López Video production: Zacharia Vigneron Graphism: Loredana Dumitru Editorial coordination: Ana Lázaro Bosch and Jeremy Fleming-Jones
Euronews
02-07-2025
- Business
- Euronews
EU Commissioner calls for more of long-term budget for space projects
The EU's next long-term budget (2028–34), currently set at €1.2 trillion, should dedicate more funding to space projects to reduce reliance on the US and bolster the bloc's strategic autonomy, EU Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius told Euronews' EU Decoded program. 'We know the needs, and the needs are much bigger than what we have now in this Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF 2021–27),' Kubilius said, adding that simply maintaining existing systems will require investing more than the current €17 billion allocated to space. The former Lithuanian Prime Minister argued that Europe remains 'quite heavily reliant' on key strategic services from the US, and that the continent urgently needs to develop more of its own space intelligence data systems. The EU is currently developing the IRIS² project, an €11 billion initiative aiming to create a secure, multi-orbital satellite network for EU governments and businesses — but new projects are also expected to be launched under the funding of the next MFF. 'We're building our own capacities, and that will cost, so that money should be included in the next MFF,' Kubilius said. 'If we do not allocate enough funding and fail to start developing these projects, by 2035 we may find ourselves in a very unattractive situation,' the Commissioner warned. In recent years, Europe has lost its leading position in the commercial launcher market (Ariane 4–5) and geostationary satellites — even forcing the EU to temporarily rely on US SpaceX rockets to launch its own satellites. According to Mario Draghi's report on competitiveness, the EU has also fallen behind in space activities and suffered major supply chain disruptions. As a result, the industry has become less profitable, with lower sales and increased dependence on components such as semiconductors and detectors. Earlier this year, Kubilius laid out the EU's roadmap to remain a space power: continue developing flagship programs, launch an EU space industrial strategy to foster innovation and competitiveness, ensure autonomous access to space, strengthen ties between defence and space, and boost investment. The Commissioner has already delivered the EU Space Act, aimed at creating a true single market for space activities and data. But whether he succeeds in securing more space funding in the next MFF to fulfill the rest of his agenda remains to be seen. On 16 July, the European Commission is expected to present the first package of its post-2027 long-term budget, when the battle for funds between old and recent EU priorities will begin.
Euronews
25-06-2025
- Business
- Euronews
EU aims to create a ‘competitive' single market for space services
The EU Commission is aiming to create a competitive single market for space services and data by cutting red tape, protecting space assets and ensuring a level playing field for all businesses, in a new EU Space Act proposed on Wednesday. 'The Space Act will allow us to grow in space,' EU Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius told reporters. 'Growth in space means growth and jobs on Earth and in space,' he added. The regulation also seeks to address Europe's fragmented space rules by harmonising national measures to make the bloc's space market cleaner, safer, and more resilient. 'This fragmentation is bad for business, bad for competitiveness, bad for our future in space,' Kubilius argued, stressing that Europe wants a stronger stake in the global space economy. In 2023, the global space economy was valued at €572 billion and is expected to grow by around 9% annually until 2035, potentially reaching €1.6 trillion. So far, however, the space market has largely depended on public investment and institutional programmes—areas where Europe risks falling behind. According to the European Space Agency (ESA), Europe accounted for 11% of global public space funding in 2023 (€12 billion), while the US contributed 64% (over €65 billion) and China 12%. Europe's share of global private investment follows a similar pattern, with European investments totalling €980 million compared to the €3.6 billion invested by the US. To support the development of Europe's industrial and economic presence in space, the EU executive also presented on Wednesday 'A Vision for the European Space Economy,' a communication outlining 40 proposed measures intended to help the bloc expand its participation in the global space market. Space increasingly 'congested and contested', says Kubilius 'The European industry, although very competitive, can only capture one third of the accessible upstream market and one fifth of the downstream market,' a senior EU official said ahead of the proposal. The space economy is typically divided into three key areas: the upstream segment, which covers research, development, manufacturing, and launches; the downstream segment, focused on applications using space-based technologies; and a derived market, which includes all economic activities benefiting from space advancements, such as photovoltaic panels. Kubilius also warned that space is becoming increasingly congested and contested. 'It's time to put in place rules of the road for space to prevent damage and disasters and protect space services,' he said. Over the next decade, an estimated 50,000 new satellites and around 140 million pieces of debris will enter orbit, according to EU figures. Space assets are increasingly exposed to threats, both intentional and accidental. Kubilius pointed to rising cyber and physical risks. 'We know there is continuous radio-frequency interference with our systems, jamming, and spoofing. We know there are many cyberattacks. So, with our Space Act, we will increase the resilience of our satellites and space operations,' he said. If adopted, the regulation would apply to EU and national space assets, as well as non-EU operators providing services in the European market. However, it would not cover military activities. To ease the transition, the Commission plans to provide support to help businesses—especially small and medium-sized enterprises—manage any costs tied to compliance. MEP Christophe Grudler (France/Renew), co-chair of the Parliament's intergroup on sky and space, welcomed the proposal as an important first step toward building a space industry on an EU scale. "This, together with the upcoming EU Space Programme, will set the EU into orbit for the global space race,' he said in a press release. The Space Act also includes steps to boost the EU's presence in the satellite launcher market, which is currently dominated by Elon Musk's SpaceX. One measure would make a single launch authorisation valid across the entire EU. "This is a strong signal to encourage innovation and strengthen the competitiveness of the European space sector, which we want to see grow," Grudler concluded.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Loan scheme to rearm Europe could be ‘important breakthrough' in Ukraine support
A €150bn (£126bn) loans programme to rearm Europe that was finalised this week could be 'a very important breakthrough' in the EU's military support for Ukraine, the bloc's defence commissioner has said. Andrius Kubilius, a former prime minister of Lithuania who is the EU's first defence commissioner, said he expected a lot of member states to request EU-backed loans under the €150bn Security Action for Europe (SAFE) scheme, which was approved on Wednesday. The European Commission proposed the €150bn loans alongside flexibilities in the bloc's fiscal rules as part of a €800bn rearmament plan, which was hastily drawn up after Donald Trump's decision to suspend all US military aid to Ukraine. Once the loans agreement is rubber-stamped next week, EU member states have six months to draw up plans for defence projects they wish to fund. 'Member states will take those loans …. and will use them for joint procurement together with Ukraine and for Ukrainian needs,' Kubilius told the Guardian. British defence companies will also have greater opportunities to be involved in defence projects funded by the scheme as a result of the EU-UK security pact signed on Monday, as part of Keir Starmer's broader reset of relations. The UK and EU are expected to sign a technical agreement on SAFE that will require a yet-to-be determined administrative fee from London. The British government, however, does not intend to seek access to the EU-backed loans, which are designated for EU member states. Kubilius said this week's agreement with the UK had a historic strategic meaning: 'It is impossible to imagine [Europe's security] architecture from one side without Great Britain, from the other side without Ukraine,' he said, referring to the immediate threat from Russia and long-term challenge of the US shifting resources to the Asia Pacific. 'We cannot complain that 340 million Americans are not ready forever to defend 450 million Europeans against 140 million Russians,' he said, playing down European differences with the Trump administration. 'We can dislike language and messages, but what we need to avoid really is what I call angry and chaotic divorce [with the US]. We need to go into a very rational agreement on a division of responsibilities.' He expressed confidence that EU member states would deepen national debts to spend the €800bn possible defence spending identified by the commission. So far, 15 countries, including Germany and Poland, have announced they intend to use the flexibilities in the EU's fiscal rules, but several large and heavily indebted economies have held back, including France, Italy and Spain. These countries, which are among the least generous donors to Ukraine, are thought to be reluctant to increase debts for defence. Consequently some Brussels insiders remain sceptical that the EU will meet the €800bn headline figure. The EU commissioner, nevertheless, said Europe could fill any shortfall in US military aid for Ukraine. By the third anniversary of the full-scale invasion, Europe had provided Ukraine with €62bn military aid, compared with €64bn from the US, according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy. Europe had also sent €70bn in humanitarian and financial aid, compared with €50bn from the US. To replace US aid flows, Europe would need to spend 0.21% of GDP, according to the Kiel Institute, compared with what its analysts described as the 'minor effort' of 0.1% of GDP being spent today. An additional 0.1% 'of course is not zero but also it is not something which would destroy our financial situation', Kubilius said. But he reflected European politicians' widespread sotto voce scepticism of Trump's efforts to broker an agreement with Ukraine, saying it was an 'illusion' that the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, wanted peace. 'The way to achieve a just peace is really to implement formal peace through strength.' Kubilius, who lived half his life in the Soviet Union, said change in Russia could be unpredictable. He believes Putin launched his war on Ukraine because he feared its attempts to move away from autocracy would inspire a movement for democratic change in Russia. 'Ukrainian success is … from [Putin's] point of view, is the biggest danger.'
