Many thanks, dear Markus, for inviting me once again to be here at such an important meeting. Indeed, seldom has it been so important to emphasise the links between Europe and the USA. We have so much in common. America is and remains our closest partner. We want to continue cooperating with the United States. We also believe, however, that trade wars and punitive tariffs benefit no one. Tariffs are taxes. They drive up inflation. They particularly hit working people, businesses and low income groups. They disrupt important supply chains spanning both sides of the Atlantic. No one wins from tariffs. And as I already said earlier this week: unjustified tariffs against the European Union will not go unanswered. We will take proportionate and decisive countermeasures. The European Union is one of the largest and most open markets in the world. We have since sharpened our tools to protect our interests, our companies and our workers. It goes without saying that we are always ready to look for joint solutions with the US which benefit both sides.
However, we are also seeing the world as a whole change at lightning pace. Europe also needs to speed up. I am sure we can do that. We need to become more competitive. We must also return to investing significantly more in defence and security. We need to boost our home-grown industries and innovation and, in so doing, ultimately strengthen Europe's sovereignty.
Above all, the European Union can support the Member States with regard to investment in defence and security. Firstly, I would therefore like the Member States to increase their defence spending significantly. We will bring forward a wide-ranging package of measures – measures and bespoke instruments – that are appropriate to the specific budgetary situation in each Member State. Secondly, a European approach needs a wide-ranging defence package. I am talking here about shared European priorities. These investments are urgently needed for defence investments of shared European interest. We must also speed up the accession process for Ukraine.
Today at the Transatlantic Forum of the CSU we will also be talking about Ukraine and the important issue of the conditions for bringing this terrible war to an end. The matter is of immediate concern to Europe. The people of Ukraine, like us, have the greatest interest in seeing a fair and lasting peace. This is particularly true if the countries of Europe are to guarantee security and take responsibility for reconstruction. We stand firmly by Ukraine. With our many international partners we want to make sure that it can decide from a position of strength the conditions in which all sides lay down arms. Ukraine's future is also Europe's future. Thank you for allowing me to be here today.
