European defense stocks lift markets higher; Best day for BAE Systems since 2022 – CNBC
France’s 2026 budget to be a ‘demanding’ undertaking, French finance minister warns
“2026, yes, it is a very demanding budget, because we will continue to diminish the deficit and to be below, of course, below 5.4%, and probably below 5%,” the finance minister told CNBC on Monday, noting the government had yet to define the latter target figure, but that it plans to utilize the same methods that brokered the financial agreement for 2025.
— Ruxandra Iordache
Defense firm Leonardo calls for creation of ‘EU defense giants’
“The European defense industry is currently too fragmented and inefficient, with each country pursuing its own strategy and developing its own weapons systems and platforms,” said the defense firm’s CEO Roberto Cingolani. “While European companies are large, they are not sufficiently powerful in the current context. The creation of EU defense giants is essential. For this reason, Leonardo is deeply committed to fostering alliances within the European defense industry.”
