EU leaders vow to boost Europe's defence capabilities - by Adrian Croft

Euro Fighters above Libya

European Union leaders pledged on Friday to plug the gaps in Europe's military capabilities and strengthen its arms industry as austerity budgets threaten to damage both the continent's military capabilities and its weapons makers.

The leaders also pledged at a Brussels summit to try to boost the EU's role in tackling international crises now that the U.S. military focus is shifting to Asia, creating demand for a bigger EU security presence in Africa and the Mediterranean.

"Current financial constraints highlight the urgent necessity to strengthen European cooperation in order to develop military capabilities and fill the critical gaps, including those identified in recent operations," they said in the conclusions of the summit.

Security and the defence industry are scheduled to be a major item on the bloc's December 2013 summit, which will look at ways to strengthen the EU common security policy and to provide more resources for missions in conflict zones.

Many Western European countries have cut their defence budgets in response to the financial crisis, leading the EU's outgoing top military officer to warn in September that some EU states may be forced to scrap their air forces in a few years.

Europe's military deficiencies were exposed during last year's Libya campaign, when European states relied heavily on the United States for air-to-air refuelling, intelligence and surveillance.

Read more: EU leaders vow to boost Europe's defence capabilities - AlertNet