Meeting of EC President Ursula von der Leyen with the Czech defence industry.
A meeting of the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen with representatives of the Czech defence industry took place in the Red Court building in Prague, where the CSG industrial group is based. At the meeting, which was attended by Czech MEP Tomáš Zdechovský, representatives of companies CSG, COLT CZ Group and STV Group presented projects in support of Ukraine and ideas to support the development of the defence industry within the EU.
David Štěpán, a member of the Board of Directors of the CSG Group, who participated in the meeting, said: „We greatly appreciate the fact that the President of the European Commission met with leading companies of the Czech defence industry that are involved in the supply of much-needed arms and ammunition for Ukrainian defence.“
Representatives of the Czech companies informed about the cooperation between the government, the Ministry of Defence and private defence industry in the Czech Republic. They also provided her with non-public details about the extent of Czech aid to Ukraine. They also brought ideas on how the EU could support the further development of its defence industry.
„The European defence industry is an essential pillar for the protection of democratic values on which the European Union, to which we are proudly attached, stands,“ concludes David Štěpán.
CSG and military aid to Ukraine
CSG Group companies are among the major European manufacturers of military equipment and ammunition supplied by the governments of the Czech Republic and other NATO countries as part of joint assistance to the Ukrainian army. Already in 2018, they delivered dozens of self-propelled howitzers and infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine.
The first wartime delivery of heavy equipment was carried out on February 28, 2022, four days after the outbreak of Russian aggression. The important role of the Czech Republic in military assistance to Ukraine is possible thanks to the close cooperation of the government, the Ministry of Defence and private companies of the Czech defence industry.
About CSG Group
The global industrial-technology group CSG, owned by Czech entrepreneur Michal Strnad, has key manufacturing plants in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Spain, Italy, India, Great Britain and the USA and exports its products all over the world. CSG continuously invests in the development of its companies and at the same time expands in its core businesses.
The group includes, for example, the Czech car manufacturer Tatra Trucks, the world’s leading manufacturer of small-calibre ammunition Fiocchi and the Czech radar manufacturer Eldis. More than 10,000 employees work in the companies integrated into the CSG Group and in the linked companies.
In 2023, the group’s consolidated revenues reached EUR 1.73 billion. CSG’s main fields of expertise are engineering, automotive, railway, aerospace, defence and small calibre ammunition production. Thanks to its strong pro-export orientation, CSG products can be found on all continents.
