EU Leaders Urge Members To Increase Defence Spending

On average, EU member states are spending 1.3% of GDP on defence - much less than the United States, Russia and China. Commission President Jean-Claude Juckner has said the EU needs to "invest more, and invest in a more efficient way".

He is calling for "European sovereignty" as many defence projects are undertaken on a national level with no coordination.

As a result, "there are some 170 different weapon systems in the EU, compared to 30 in the United States".

The EU unveiled a new defence fund on Wednesday to provide a total of 500 million euro (£440 million) in EU money in 2019 and 2020 to help buy and develop military equipment.This would double to one billion euro annually from 2020.

Along with increasing defence, My Juckner has said that NATO remains crucial to EU security.

"We're different but have to complement each other in so many ways."

"No NATO is not an option for the European Union. It would be a disaster for the European Union. We have to stick together,".

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini echoed Mr Juckner's sentiments about working together.

"Let me be very open about this," she said.

"If we're heading toward European security and defence, it is not because the UK is leaving the European Union ... or because of shifts across the Atlantic.

"We're doing this because we need it, and we want it."

They also reinforced that security and defence are among top priorities of citizens in all EU countries.

"There's one thing that European citizens say clear and loud. They want more European Union in defence and security."