European arms manufacturers have called on the European Union to help coordinate arms purchases as they struggle to increase production to meet rising demand because of the war in Ukraine, Reuters reported.

Before a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels, defense executives said their industry was determined that EU states should spend less, not more, on defense after decades of peace in Europe.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance has begun a dialogue with industry and allies on how to increase production and replenish weapons stocks. He told a news conference that defense ministers would decide to increase stocks. Stockpile reductions were the right move to support Ukraine, but production now needed to increase to ensure the allies' own capabilities and to continue supporting Ukraine in the long term.

Nicolas Chamussy, executive director of the French defense company Nexter, said the industry had to respond to a surge in EU demand for military equipment, while production capacity was designed for peacetime. He added that there is a serious demand for artillery capabilities in Europe.

Nexter develops and produces military vehicles for the French and international armed forces. It is currently part of the French-German company KNDS, which is 50 percent owned by the French state and 50 percent by the Wegmann-Gruppe family group.

The direct consequence for the war in Ukraine is to be asked to do more, to work faster, which is being asked now, said Eric Beranger, head of pan-European missile manufacturer MBDA.

Nexter's Chamussy urged EU leaders to avoid what he called national-level refragmentation in a turbulent war-driven environment with each member state pursuing its own goals. On the contrary, this challenge must be addressed at the European level, he added, calling for military capacity building through better and more effective cooperation.

The leaders said they urgently need additional personnel. Chamussy called on the EU to help create a reservoir of people and suggested calling back those who have retired early and bringing in experts from other companies and dual-career companies.