PM Fiala: Increased EU defense investments benefit Czechia

Strengthening EU investments in the defense industry is beneficial for Czechia, both strategically and economically, Prime Minister Petr Fiala (Civic Democratic Party) said before an informal EU summit in Brussels. He emphasized the need for better financing and coordinated acquisitions across Europe. Fiala reiterated a call from 18 European leaders for the European Investment Bank to open funding opportunities for private defense firms. He also suggested raising Czech defense spending to 3% of GDP in the next term. The summit, attended by NATO’s Mark Rutte and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, is the first focused on EU defense policy.