The Europe of Defence: COUNCIL AND EU INSTITUTIONS

The EU and its member states are ramping up their defence spending and investment at a time of rapid geopolitical shifts and a radically changed security situation.
On this page:
- The EU plan for defence readiness
- Support for member states’ spending on defence
- EU spending on defence
- Simplifying rules and procedures
- Private investment in the defence sector

How the EU responds to conflicts and crises beyond its borders, protects its citizens and supports its partner countries in building their capacities.

The EU and its member states are committed to spending more and better together on defence in response to the unprecedented threats and security challenges that Europe is currently facing.
This page includes:
- How much are EU member states spending on defence?
- Enhanced cooperation on defence
- Boosting competitiveness

This content has not been altered or updated since 23 January 2025

In the face of the new security challenges created by Russia's military aggression against Ukraine, the EU and its member states are committed to boosting the EU’s defence industry.
This page includes:
- A stronger EU defence industry
- The defence industry package
- Defence industry procurement
- Ammunition and missile production
- European defence fund

Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the EU and its member states have significantly stepped up their military support for the Ukrainian armed forces.
This page includes:
- Addressing Ukraine's military and defence needs
- Training for Ukrainian soldiers
- Ammunition and missiles EU-Ukraine joint security commitments

PESCO provides a framework for the 26 participating member states to jointly plan, develop and invest in shared capability projects, and enhance the operational readiness and contribution of their armed forces.
On this page:
- Deepening defence cooperation
- PESCO commitments and projects
- PESCO strategic review

The European Peace Facility (EPF) is an instrument aimed at enhancing the EU's ability to prevent conflicts, build and preserve peace and strengthen international security and stability.
On this page:
- Establishing the European Peace Facility
- EU support to Ukraine
- Pillars
- Governance
- Operations
- Monitoring and compliance
- Implementing rules

Athena is a mechanism which handles the financing of common costs relating to EU military operations under the EU's common security and defence policy (CSDP). See also: "Athena Mechanism : accounting of operations financed under the Athena Mechanism" (2019)

Further information:
White Paper for European Defence – Readiness 2030
Communication on Accommodating increased defence expenditure
Regulation establishing the Security Action for Europe (SAFE)
Questions and answers on the White Paper for European Defence – Readiness 2030
Questions and answers on the ReArm Europe Plan/Readiness 2030
Factsheet on the White Paper for European Defence – Readiness 2030
Factsheet on the ReArm Europe Plan/Readiness 2030

The Roadmap sets out clear objectives and milestones to achieve defence readiness by 2030, as outlined in the White Paper for European Defence. Among its key proposals are four flagship projects: the Eastern Flank Watch, the European Drone Defence Initiative, the European Air Shield, and the European Space Shield.

The Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space (DG-DEFIS) is the European Commission's department tasked with strengthening the competitiveness and innovation of the European Defence industry by ensuring the evolution of an able European defence technological and industrial base.

ASAP is a direct response to the European Council’s call in March 2023 to urgently deliver ammunition, and missiles if requested, to Ukraine and to help Member States refill their stocks by introducing targeted measures. ASAP aims to ramp-up of ammunition production capacity across Europe and with this, help Member States refill their stocks and deliver ammunition to Ukraine by anticipating bottlenecks and shortages in the defence supply chains. The programme has currently identified projects with a budget in excess of €500 million to stimulate the production of ammunition. See also: ASAP Implementation Report (8 July 2024) / ASAP Overview Presentation (15 March 2024)

EDIP is a Regulation proposed by the Commission to start implementing concrete measures identified in the European Defence Industrial Strategy (EDIS). EDIP looks to:
- Provide financial support with €1.5 billion from the EU budget over the period 2025-2027
- Strengthen the competitiveness and responsiveness of the EDTIB
- Ensure the availability and supply of defence products
- Promote cooperation with Ukraine on the recovery, reconstruction and modernisation of its defence industry
See also: EDIP Proposal for a Regulation (5 March 2024) 
Commission Staff Working Document on EDIP
EDIP Factsheet

The European Defence Industrial Strategy at a glance.

• EDIS Joint Communication
• EDIS Factsheet

The European Defence Fund (EDF) is the Commission's instrument to support Research and Development in defence.
Its main goals are:
° To promote cooperation between companies, including SMEs and research actors throughout the Union.
° To boost defence capability development through investments.
° To help EU companies develop cutting-edge and interoperable defence technologies and equipment.
The EDF supports companies across Member States. The Fund has a budget of nearly €8 billion for 2021-2027, with €2.7 billion allocated for collaborative defence research and €5.3 billion for collaborative capability development projects that complement national contributions.
The Commission adopted the European Defence Fund’s annual Work Programme for 2025 (30 January 2025), allocating €1.065 billion for collaborative research and development in the field of defence.

Joint Communication on Military Mobility, Proposal for a Regulation on Military Mobility, and targeted amendments to existing EU legislation. Planned adoption date of the package: December 2025 (as announced in the White Paper on the Future of European Defence)

The White Paper for European Defence Readiness 2030 sets a clear tasking that the “EU will adopt a Joint Communication on Military Mobility” and “the necessary legislative proposals, this year”. To this end, the European Commission and the European External Action Service will present a Military Mobility package composed of a Joint Communication and two legislative proposals: a Regulation proposal to address all remaining barriers and supporting Member States in transporting military equipment and personnel in the EU and targeted amendments of existing EU legislation to better meet military mobility needs.

Also known as the "omnibus" on defence.
The European Commission has proposed new measures to cut red tape and facilitate the €800 billion of investment that EU countries need to ensure their defence industries can deliver at speed and scale. The measures build on the vision set out in the White Paper for European Defence-Readiness 2030 that identified simplifying and harmonising rules as an essential way to boost Europe's defence preparedness. The Commission's ‘omnibus’
defence package, comprising seven legislative acts, will have to be agreed by the Council and the European Parliament.
See the communication: Defence Readiness Omnibus; and the proposal for a regulation on the defence industry.

Contains the EDF Interim Evaluation, adopted on 17 June 2025. In line with Article 29 (2) of the Regulation establishing the European Defence Fund, the interim evaluation of the Fund shall be carried out once there is sufficient information available about its implementation, but no later than four years after the start of the implementation period of the Fund. This page includes a set of supporting research pieces and analytical work performed by the consortium contracted by the European Commission to help inform the interim evaluation of the European Defence Fund. The studies have been prepared by members of the consortium composed of: IAI, SIPRI, and IRIS, under the coordination of PwC Europe.

European Union steps up support for Ukrainian defence industry.

The Commission will invest close to €1 billion in 62 new EDF projects, bringing total EU funding for collaborative defence R&D to over €4 billion since 2021. See also: Commission mobilises €910 million to boost European defence and close capability gaps (30 April 2025)

To date, 12 Member States have submitted a request in writing to the Commission to activate the national escape clause under the Stability and Growth Pact, as part of the ReArm Europe Plan/Readiness 2030 package presented in March 2025. These are Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia and Slovenia. Additional requests are expected to be submitted at a later stage.
The activation of the national escape clause provides Member States with additional budgetary space to increase defence spending, while remaining within the EU fiscal rules, in line with the paper published by the Commission as part of the ReArm Europe Plan/Readiness 2030 package.

The European Commission proposes to modify funding programmes to increase investment in defence sector.

Backing the defence industry and supporting Eastern border regions : today's proposal will further enable Member States to use current cohesion funding to build resilient infrastructure to foster military mobility. It will also support productive capacities of small and large enterprises in the defence sector across all EU regions. For this purpose, the Commission proposes to create two new specific objectives within the existing scope of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to support defence.

This second progress report on the EU Action Plan on Military Mobility 2.0 reflects the ongoing work of the different Union institutions, bodies and agencies to implement the identified actions across the main priority areas of the Action Plan. It also encompasses, where necessary, the progress made in the different areas since the last progress report from November 2023.

The European Commission has proposed a new loan instrument, ‘Security Action for Europe’ (SAFE), worth up to €150 billion.

Flexibility in national budgets is given.

"On the definition of defence spending, there appears to be several advantages for using the already established definition of defence expenditure, or the so-called broad COFOG definition."

"I have written a letter to Leaders ahead of Thursday's European Council. This is why we are here together today. And I have outlined in this letter to the leaders the ReArm Europe Plan. This set of proposals focuses on how to use all of the financial levers at our disposal – in order to help Member States to quickly and significantly increase expenditures in defence capabilities. Urgently now but also over a longer time over this decade. There are five parts to this."

Hearing of the new EU Commissioner for Defence and Space, Andrius Kubilius: "Finally, the design of the next MFF and its instruments is ahead of us, and defence will be a key priority. "

Joint communication to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions

This strategy intends to enhance and support the Member States’ efforts to invest more, better, together, and European (Section 2). The increased availability of defence products and systems should be achieved thanks to a more efficient and responsive EDTIB, relying on enhanced security of supply (Section 3). It is important to develop the financial means to underpin EU defence industrial readiness (Section 4). In addition, a defence readiness culture should be mainstreamed including across all EU policies (Section 5). Finally, partnerships should be leveraged to enhance readiness and resilience (Section 6).
See also: Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the European Defence Industry Programme and a framework of measures to ensure the timely availability and supply of defence products (‘EDIP’), (5 March 2024)
See also: First ever defence industrial strategy and a new defence industry programme to enhance Europe's readiness and security (press release) and Questions and answers on the European Defence Industrial Strategy and the European Defence Industry Programme (5 March 2024)

Joint Communication to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council of the European Union, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, JOIN(2024) 10 final

The Strategic Compass on Security and Defence, which the European Council endorsed in March 2022, emphasised that: “Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine has confirmed the urgent need to substantially enhance the military mobility of our armed forces within and beyond the Union.” In view of “new commitments with the aim to substantially enhance and invest in military mobility”, it called for an “ambitious, revised Action Plan by the end of 2022”. This Action Plan on Military Mobility 2.0 responds to this call.

Joint Communication to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council of the European Union, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, JOIN(2022)24

The European Commission is presenting ProtectEU – a European Internal Security Strategy to support Member States and bolster the EU's ability to guarantee security for its citizens. The strategy sets out an ambitious vision and workplan for the years to come, with a sharper legal toolbox, increased information sharing and deeper cooperation.

An overview of the implementation of the EU Security Union Strategy for 2020-2025 since its adoption.

Legislative Train Schedule

In his draft report published on 14 August, MEP Christophe Gomart (EPP, French), rapporteur on ‘European defence readiness 2030: assessment of needs’, called for easier financing of defence contractors. The MEP calls for a stable basis and long-term vision for private investment in defence, encouraging each Member State to publish a detailed strategic vision of its military spending up to 2030, including its capability objectives.

Legislative Train Schedule [constantly updated]

European Parliament resolution of 2 April 2025 on the implementation of the common security and defence policy – annual report 2024

On 24 April 2025, the Committees on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), and on Security and Defence (SEDE) backed the draft European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP). MEPs called for increased national contributions to EDIP, more joint procurement, and greater coordination in defence production, with a focus on boosting supply, manufacturing capacity, and stockpiling of critical equipment. They also agreed on key principles, including a “buy European” rule requiring at least 70% EU or associated countries' components in funded projects.

Parliamentary committee opinion

- Provide more arms and ammunitions to Ukraine
- Preparatory actions must be “close to those of wartime”
- Simplify decision-making for defence issues
- MEPs welcome ReArm plan, ask for innovative funding solutions

The Regulation formerly known as 'European Defence Investment Programme (EDIP)' was originally announced in the Joint communication on the Defence Investment Gaps of 18 May 2022 and responds to a European Council request at the Versailles Summit in March to ‘put forward an analysis of the defence investment gaps by mid-May and to propose any further initiative necessary to strengthen the European defence technological and industrial base’.

The European Defence Agency (EDA) and the EU Military Staff (EUMS) have begun consultations with Member States for the next Coordinated Annual Review on Defence (CARD), the EU’s ‘State of the Union’ in defence. The report, due next year, will provide a detailed overview of Member States’ goals, plans and projects. It will highlight trends in spending and planning, and identify gaps and collaborative defence initiatives with the greatest potential impact. It aims to inform decision-making at both national and EU levels.

European Union Member States have approved 11 new projects under the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) in the sixth and final wave of the initial phase of the framework. These projects, which involve 19 Member States, aim to strengthen defence cooperation and capability development.

National promotional institutions of France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Spain as well as EIB explore ways of stepping up cooperation and coordination in support of Europe’s security and defence industry (in areas such as research, industrial capacity, and infrastructure).

On this page:
- A Strategic Compass for Security and Defence
- The common security and defence policy
- What we do: Actions and policies
- A Security and Defence policy fit for the future
- EU Security and Defence Twitter account

Close to 4,000 European women and men are currently engaged on the ground in Europe’s neighbourhood: Africa, the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe, the Middle East. They are military forces and civilian experts detached by the EU’s Member States under EU-led CSDP missions and operations. With mandates tailored to the needs of the situation on the ground, their aim is to stabilise our partner countries in the neighbourhood and thus provide security at home.

The European External Action Service (EEAS), including the EU Military Staff (EUMS), and the European Defence Agency (EDA) jointly act as the PESCO Secretariat, providing a single point of contact within the Union’s framework for all PESCO matters.
Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) - factsheet
See also: PESCO PROJECTS - Cyber Ranges Federations (CRF)

The European Peace Facility is a €12 billion fund set up by the EU to support military and defence actions, including military missions and operations as well as assistance to the militaries of partner countries.
Please also refer to The European Peace Facility Factsheet (23/07/2024)

In order to enable the European Union to fully assume its responsibilities for crisis management and act as a global security actor, EU Member States decided to establish permanent political, military and civilian structures.

In the first year after the adoption of the Strategic Compass, we have made significant progress, in full coherence with the EU Security Union Strategy of 2020. We have increased the speed, flexibility and responsiveness of our missions and operations to act. Our engagements worldwide, including the newly established missions, are a clear proof of our unity and our contribution to international peace and security. We have strengthened our ability to anticipate threats, secure our access to strategic domains and protect our citizens. Member States have also stepped up defence spending and investments in an unprecedented manner. We are further developing incentive to cooperate even more, in particular through joint procurement. We are now spending more, but we need to make sure to invest better. In parallel, we are strengthening our partnerships to achieve common goals in security and defence. These are an essential instrument to support our ambition to be a global strategic player.

Around 4,000 EU military and civilian staff are currently deployed in CSDP missions and operations in three continents, working for a more stable world and contributing to a safer Europe.

This first edition of the EEAS report on Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) threats is informed by the work of the European External Action Service’s (EEAS) Stratcom division in 2022. Based on a first sample of specific FIMI cases, it outlines how building on shared taxonomies and standards can fuel our collective understanding of the threat and help inform appropriate countermeasures in the short to the long term.

The Strategic Compass marks a high level of ambition for our security and defence agenda by:
1. Providing a shared assessment of our strategic environment, the threats and challenges we face and their implications for the EU;
2. Bringing greater coherence and a common sense of purpose to actions in the area of security and defence that are already underway;
3. Setting out new ways and means to improve our collective ability to defend the security of our citizens and our Union;
4. Specifying clear targets and milestones to measure progress.

In a world that is becoming more challenging to European interests and values, we need to unite and develop a common European answer. Questions and answers: a background for the Strategic Compass

The European Union and its Member States face multiple threats and challenges that are rapidly evolving and increasing in magnitude and complexity. To tackle them, the EU has strengthened its work in the field of security and defence with a comprehensive set of defence initiatives implemented since 2017. As the global security environment deteriorates and new threats emerge, the EU now needs to step up its capacity and willingness to act.

With the Strategic Compass the EU set out the ambition to be a stronger and more capable security provider in its neighborhood and beyond. The EU needs to be able to protect its citizens and to contribute to international peace and security, by being able to react quickly, robustly and effectively to conflicts and crises outside its borders.

The Strategic Compass was adopted in March 2022, just a few weeks after the return of high-intensity war to our continent. And since then, the global threat landscape has become even more alarming. But we, as European Union, have not stood by idly: we have taken action. In Ukraine, to start with. Together, the EU and Member states, we have so far already provided EUR 28 billion for military equipment, through the European Peace Facility and bilateral assistance. Until the end of 2024, we will have delivered more than 1 million artillery ammunition rounds to Ukraine and we will have trained 60,000 Ukrainian soldiers on EU soil by this summer. The creation of a new Ukraine Assistance Fund within the European Peace Facility will underpin the EU’s long-term military support and our future security commitments to Ukraine.

In the first year after the adoption of the Strategic Compass, we have made significant progress, in full coherence with the EU Security Union Strategy of 2020. We have increased the speed, flexibility and responsiveness of our missions and operations to act. Our engagements worldwide, including the newly established missions, are a clear proof of our unity and our contribution to international peace and security. We have strengthened our ability to anticipate threats, secure our access to strategic domains and protect our citizens. Member States have also stepped up defence spending and investments in an unprecedented manner. We are further developing incentive to cooperate even more, in particular through joint procurement. We are now spending more, but we need to make sure to invest better. In parallel, we are strengthening our partnerships to achieve common goals in security and defence. These are an essential instrument to support our ambition to be a global strategic player.

The Strategic Compass was adopted in March 2022, one month after the start of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. It lists more than 80 concrete actions to translate even more the EU's ambition in security and defence into reality. One year after its adoption, the EU and its Member States have made significant progress in its implementation.

Around 4,000 EU military and civilian staff are currently deployed in CSDP missions and operations in three continents, working for a more stable world and contributing to a safer Europe.

The return of war in Europe, with Russia’s unjustified and unprovoked aggression against Ukraine, as well as major geopolitical shifts are challenging our ability to promote our vision and defend our interests. We live in an era of strategic competition and complex security threats. We see conflicts, military build-ups and aggressions, and sources of instability increasing in our neighbourhood and beyond, leading to severe humanitarian suffering and displacement. Hybrid threats grow both in frequency and impact. Interdependence is increasingly conflictual and soft power weaponised: vaccines, data and technology standards are all instruments of political competition. Access to the high seas, outer space and the digital sphere is increasingly contested. We are facing increasing attempts of economic and energy coercion.

This first edition of the EEAS report on Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) threats is informed by the work of the European External Action Service’s (EEAS) Stratcom division in 2022. Based on a first sample of specific FIMI cases, it outlines how building on shared taxonomies and standards can fuel our collective understanding of the threat and help inform appropriate countermeasures in the short to the long term.

A challenge for the single market: a European defence policy well balanced with the needs of citizens (own-initiative opinion).

Exploratory opinion at the request of the Polish Presidency.