Johan Van Overtveldt: “Europe must strengthen its defence with smart investments and structural reforms”

During a plenary session of the European Parliament, Johan Van Overtveldt, head of the N-VA delegation and chair of the Budget Committee, called for a fundamental shift in Europe’s defence policy. “Either we strengthen our defence, security, and resilience, or we risk seeing our democracy and freedoms eroded.”

A turning point

According to Van Overtveldt, the European Union finds itself at a critical juncture in an increasingly unstable geopolitical environment. He advocates targeted investments that will enhance the strategic autonomy and resilience of both the EU and its member states. He also took aim at those downplaying the current threats, warning that such attitudes only serve anti-democratic forces.

Smart spending, not blind cash flows

Van Overtveldt rejected a purely quantitative approach to defence spending. For the N-VA delegation, it’s not just about spending more—it’s about spending wisely. Strategic investments in defence, innovation, and autonomy are key. “Let’s seize this moment to improve the European Union in a structural way, rather than simply throwing money at the problem. The private sector must play a central role if we want our defence efforts to also generate real socio-economic value.”

Military-industrial capacity

Van Overtveldt also stressed the urgency of expanding Europe’s military capacity: “Without strengthening our military-industrial base, increased defence spending could simply result in price hikes from existing producers. That is exactly what we need to avoid.”