Brussels, May 12 -- In a move to boost Europe's security and strategic autonomy, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Monday convened the first-ever Strategic Dialogue with representatives of the European defence industry.

The meeting highlighted the crucial role of the defence sector, with President von der Leyen emphasising the urgent need for Europe's defence industry to operate at a greater scale and speed.

Sharing a post on X, von der Leyen wrote, "As our Union takes on greater responsibility for its defence, we need a strong defence industry. It's not only a matter of security - but also competitiveness. I met with European industry leaders to hear from them how we can support this crucial sector even more."

http...