Ursula von der Leyen announced the launch of a major project dedicated to the defense of Europe's eastern flank, with a focus on the Black Sea area, which she described as "the cornerstone of a credible defense." ""Europe's Eastern Flank keeps the whole of Europe safe. From the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea. That is why we must invest in supporting it through an Eastern Flank Surveillance Operation. This means providing Europe with independent strategic capabilities. We must invest in real-time