An international expert conference is to be held in Berlin on October 25 to discuss the reconstruction of Ukraine. Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced this on Monday in Prague. The SPD politician again assured Ukraine, which was attacked by Russia, of permanent help. “We will maintain this support, reliably and for as long as necessary,” said Scholz. “This applies to the reconstruction of the devastated country, which will be an effort of generations.”
The Chancellor emphasized that this requires international coordination and a clever, resilient strategy. That is what the expert conference should be about, to which Scholz claims to be inviting together with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
As a consequence of the Ukraine war, Scholz also advocated significantly greater efforts for the EU’s common defense policy. This requires “a real EU headquarters in the medium term” and a rapid reaction force from 2025. Scholz confirmed that Germany wants to provide the “core” for the planned unit with around 5,000 soldiers at the beginning.
Scholz spoke out in principle for the admission of Ukraine, Moldova and the western Balkan states to the EU and, in the future, Georgia as well. But this requires reforms in the EU, such as an end to the right of veto in foreign policy, and lean institutions. Otherwise there would be a risk of “Kafkaesque conditions,” the Chancellor warned.
A new air defense system is to be set up with the European neighbors. A common system “would be a security gain for all of Europe,” said Scholz. It would also be cheaper and more efficient than national solutions.
Scholz also called for better recycling of cell phone and battery parts in order to make Europe less dependent on raw materials from abroad in the future. “We need a ‘game plan’, something like a strategy ‘Made in Europe 2030’,” said Scholz in his speech at Charles University. A large part of the lithium, cobalt, magnesium or nickel that the companies depend on has long been in Europe. “Valuable raw materials are in every mobile phone and in every car battery.”
This potential must be used more, said Scholz. “The technologies for this are often already there today.” Common standards are needed for a real European circular economy. “I call it: A strategic update of our internal market,” said the Federal Chancellor. At the same time, he emphasized that economic independence does not mean self-sufficiency. Europe has benefited and will continue to benefit from open markets and trade, said the SPD politician.
Scholz then wanted to meet Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala. The conversation should also be about the planned tank ring exchange. The federal government wants to deliver Leopard tanks to the Czech Republic, which in turn will provide Soviet-designed weapons to Ukraine.