EU aims to shift European arms industry to ‘war economy mode’

FILE PHOTO: The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell speaks with acting Spain's Minister of Defence Margarita Robles and European Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton ahead of posing for a family photo with other attendees during the informal EU ministerial meeting on defence in Toledo, Spain August 30, 2023. REUTERS/Isabel Infantes/File Photo

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission will propose on Tuesday ways for the European Union to boost its arms industry so it can shift to "war economy mode" in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Thierry Breton, the European industry commissioner, will lay out proposals to encourage EU countries to buy more weapons together from European companies, and to help such firms increase production capacity, according to EU officials.