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Theo Francken says bloc is in a ‘difficult position’ after recent increase in hybrid provocations from Moscow
Belgian defence minister Theo Francken said “there will be more hybrid threat actions” in the coming months, as he starkly warned “it will be a dark winter forbut for much longer and it has “expertise” in this area, often making it difficult for western countries to investigate them and attribute responsibility.
“We need to scale up our air defences and we need to have more stocks, scale up production. Everything has to go faster,” he said.it has since improved and ramped it up its planning. He said Europe got too used to its comfortable welfare state protections at the cost of adequate spending on defence, and this is now changing.
“Europe has been very good in investing in soft power, in social security. And it’s beautiful to have a pension system, to have social welfare systems when somebody gets sick, when somebody lost his job – we have everything. But when there’s war or there’s hybrid threats, we don’t have anything. So yeah, we’re in a really difficult position.
”Morning opening: Russia targets communications, energy facilities in Ukraine Meanwhile, with Brexit and the question of Britain’s relationship with the EU back in the spotlight in the UK,Speaking with students at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid last night,In a long defence of Europe’s unique integration process – where, according to Macron, even nationalist leaders have come to appreciate the bloc’s role – he described Brexit as a “disastrous exception” to the rule. Those who said, ‘We’ll be richer,’ eight points of GDP less 10 years on.
We’ll solve the immigration problem; it’s more complicated than before. And we’re going to be a huge success in international trade, it’s even worse.
” We will hear from him again later today, as he is expected to take part in a press conference with Spain’sthe first time such a massive and combined attackBelgian defence minister Theo Francken said “there will be more hybrid threat actions” in the coming months, as he starkly warned “it will be a dark winter forbut for much longer and it has “expertise” in this area, often making it difficult for western countries to investigate them and attribute responsibility.
“We need to scale up our air defences and we need to have more stocks, scale up production. Everything has to go faster,” he said.it has since improved and ramped it up its planning. He said Europe got too used to its comfortable welfare state protections at the cost of adequate spending on defence, and this is now changing.
“Europe has been very good in investing in soft power, in social security. And it’s beautiful to have a pension system, to have social welfare systems when somebody gets sick, when somebody lost his job – we have everything. But when there’s war or there’s hybrid threats, we don’t have anything. So yeah, we’re in a really difficult position.
”Residents stand in front of a private building which was heavily damaged during a Russian missile strike in the town of Vyshhorod, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine. A firefighter works at the site of private car garages hit by a Russian missile strike in the town of Vyshhorod.
Debris had been found at the premises of one of the western embassies in the centre of Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said this morning,which damaged energy facilities and other civilian infrastructure. A member of local authority walks at the site of a private building which was heavily damaged during a Russian missile strike in the town of Vyshhorod. In other news,continues his visit to Spain amid ongoing housing protests in the country.
He is due to appear at a press conference with Spanish prime minister,
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