What's happened
Andrius Kubilius, the EU's new defense commissioner, is tasked with addressing Europe's defense shortcomings amid rising tensions from the Ukraine conflict. His role includes overseeing military coordination and managing the EU's space initiatives, but faces skepticism regarding funding and authority.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to Politico, Kubilius's appointment is seen as a response to the urgent need for better defense coordination in Europe, especially in light of the Ukraine conflict. However, the New York Times highlights skepticism regarding the funding and authority of his role, suggesting it may be more symbolic than substantive. Analysts express concerns that without adequate resources, Kubilius's ability to effect change will be severely limited. As noted by Politico, the historical friction between the European Commission and the European Space Agency complicates his dual responsibilities in defense and space policy, making his task even more challenging.
How we got here
The appointment of Andrius Kubilius as the EU's first defense commissioner comes in response to the ongoing war in Ukraine, highlighting Europe's defense inadequacies. His role aims to enhance military cooperation among EU member states and improve the EU's defense industrial base.
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Ursula Gertrud von der Leyen is a German politician and the president of the European Commission since 1 December 2019. She served in the federal government of Germany from 2005 to 2019 as the longest-serving member of Angela Merkel's cabinet.
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Andrius Kubilius is a Lithuanian politician who has been serving as a Member of the European Parliament since 2019. He served as Prime Minister of Lithuania from 1999 to 2000 and again from 2008 to 2012.
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The European Union is a political and economic union of 27 member states that are located primarily in Europe. Its members have a combined area of 4,233,255.3 km² and an estimated total population of about 447 million.
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Lithuania, officially the Republic of Lithuania, is a country in the Baltic region of Europe. Lithuania is one of the Baltic states. The country is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, to the southeast of Sweden and Denmark.