France, Aug. 29 -- France and Germany will on Friday discuss a new way of producing weapons in the European Union - the so-called "best athlete" model, where the company most suited to the job builds systems for the whole bloc instead of each country developing its own.

In the face of the threat from Russia and NATO requirements to increase defence spending, the European Union is aiming to produce more weapons.

But the sector is fragmented, and each country has a tendency to favour its own industry, making fast and efficient production a challenge.

To address this and attempt to streamline production, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, along with their foreign and defence ministers,are to meet on Fri...