Czech PM welcomes EU Commission moves on defense

Czech prime minister Bohuslav Sobotka has welcomed proposals from the European Commission president, Jean-Claude Juncker to boost European defense. In a state of the union speech, the Commission president said more should be done to boost cooperation between defense companies. He said an EU defense fund aimed at promoting innovation should be created by the end of the year. He also back further steps by national governments to pool their defense capabilities saying that Europe could not ‘piggy back’ on the US. The Czech prime minister has made defense one of his key topics at the Bratislava informal summit on Friday. Mr. Sobotka also referred to the Commission president’s comments on the EU’s external borders and pointed out that the Czech Republic is prepared to help Bulgaria police its borders.