European defence readiness
The EU and its member states are committed to ramp up Europe’s defence readiness and to boost their defence spending at a time of rapid geopolitical shifts and a radically changed security situation.
Boosting European defence expenditure
The EU is committed to strengthening its defence and being better equipped to act and deal autonomously with immediate and future challenges and threats, including Russia’s war against Ukraine and its repercussions for European and global security.
In March 2022, a few weeks after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, EU leaders approved the Versailles declaration and agreed to invest more and better in defence, while boosting the European defence industry and reducing strategic dependencies.
At successive European Council meetings between 2024 and 2025, EU leaders reaffirmed their commitment to reinforcing the EU's overall defence readiness and to implementing the objectives set down in the Versailles declaration.
Security and defence are a national competence. However, the EU complements and multiplies member states’ individual efforts, in particular by facilitating:
- greater collaboration, from defence research to procurement and in-service support
- more efficiency, interchangeability and interoperability of defence products
A stronger and more capable EU in the field of security and defence is complementary to NATO and contributes to boosting European competitiveness.
Ensuring defence readiness by 2030
White paper for European defence - Readiness 2030
Building on the Versailles declaration and on the political priorities set by the European Council, on 19 March 2025 the European Commission and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy presented the 'White paper for European defence - Readiness 2030'.
The white paper is the strategic framework outlining the EU's new approach to defence industrial matters. The paper identifies investment needs and sets objectives, such as enhancing deterrence and military mobility, to ensure Europe’s defence readiness in the long term.
ReArm Europe Plan / Readiness 2030
Together with the white paper, the European Commission presented the 'ReArm Europe Plan / Readiness 2030' on 19 March 2025.
The plan outlines concrete legal and financial means to support the goals of the white paper, enabling the EU and its member states to boost their defence investments and paving the way for up €800 billion of additional defence spending up to 2030.
Preserving peace - Defence readiness roadmap 2030
As requested by the European Council, in October 2025 the Commission and the High Representative proposed the 'Preserving peace - Defence readiness roadmap 2030', a comprehensive plan to strengthen European defence capabilities.
The roadmap implements prior guidance provided by the European Council and sets out clear objectives and milestones to achieve defence readiness by 2030.
Support for members states’ spending on defence
EU member states have significantly increased their defence expenditure in recent years. In 2024, total expenditure reached €343 billion, with €106 billion spent on investments.
In 2025, member states' defence expenditure will reach an estimated €381 billion, with €130 billion spent on investments. This means a 11% increase compared to 2024 and a 62.8% increase compared to 2020.
Member states' defence expenditure (2005-2025)
A chart showing the rise in EU member states' defence expenditure between 2005 and 2025. A significant increase in defence spending is clearly visible between 2020 and 2025.
The EU has taken several initiatives to support member states in increasing their defence expenditure even more.
Specifically, the EU is providing temporary emergency financial assistance through a loan mechanism (Security Action for Europe or SAFE) and gives member states additional budgetary flexibility in requesting activation of the national escape clause.
The EU supports member states' cooperation on defence also through the European Peace Facility.
Security Action for Europe
On 27 May 2025, the Council adopted the first pillar of the ReArm Europe plan / Readiness 2030: a regulation setting up the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) instrument.
SAFE will provide financial assistance in the form of loans of up to €150 billion, backed by the EU budget, to support member states in making rapid and significant increases in their defence investments through common procurement. Allocation of the budget will be demand-driven and based on investment plans.
Ukraine, the countries of the European economic area, EU candidate countries and potential EU candidate countries will be able to join common procurement procedures. Common procurements from the Canadian industry are also possible, following the conclusion of a bilateral agreement with the EU.
Other non-EU countries may join the common procurement procedures subject to prior conclusion of a security and defence partnership with the EU.
What is Security Action for Europe (SAFE)?
Activation of the national escape clause
In the framework of the ReArm Europe plan / Readiness 2030, the European Commission has proposed that member states request the activation of the national escape clause of the stability and growth pact. As of February 2026, the Council has activated the national escape clause for 18 member states.
This procedure gives member states additional budgetary flexibility for defence spending, while remaining within EU fiscal rules.
The flexibility will be available for four years, starting from 2025, with an annual excess up to 2028 that will not exceed 1.5% of the member state’s GDP.
National escape clause for defence expenditure
European Peace Facility
EU member states also cooperate on security and defence through the European Peace Facility (EPF), which aims to enhance the EU's ability to prevent conflicts, build and preserve peace and strengthen international security and stability.
The EPF, established by the EU in March 2021, is worth over €17 billion and is financed by member states’ contributions (outside the EU budget). The EPF consists of two pillars, one for military operations and one for assistance measures.
EU spending on defence
The EU already has several initiatives in place under the EU budget to complement defence investments by member states, including the European defence fund and the European defence industry programme.
The EU is also working to simplify existing rules and procedures in the defence sector and to amend existing EU funding programmes to expand the scope of investment opportunities.
Defence funds under the 2021-2027 EU budget
The funds under the 2021-2027 EU budget (the multiannual financial framework) help support research and development, enhance military mobility, ramp up industrial production capacity and promote joint procurement.
Security and defence expenditure includes:
- around €8.8 billion to boost defence research and development under the European defence fund
- €1.7 billion to support military mobility projects through the Connecting Europe Facility
- €300 million to support joint defence procurement under the instrument for the reinforcement of the European defence industry through common procurement
- €500 million to boost ammunition production under the regulation supporting ammunition production
EU funding for defence
European defence industry programme
On 8 December 2025, the Council adopted the European defence industry programme (EDIP). Through EDIP, the EU is providing €1.5 billion in the form of grants to boost Europe's defence readiness for the period 2025-2027.
EDIP implements several of the measures proposed in European defence industrial strategy (EDIS), presented by the European Commission and the High Representative in March 2024.
Military mobility
In November 2025, the European Commission and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy presented the military mobility package, aimed at ensuring the seamless movement of troops, equipment and military assets across the EU.
The package consists of a regulation proposal and a joint communication. On 17 June 2026, the Council approved its mandate for negotiations with the European Parliament on the regulation.
European defence industry programme
Simplifying rules and procedures
Defence readiness omnibus
On 10 June 2026, the Council and the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement on the defence readiness omnibus, a package of measures to simplify the legal and administrative framework for the defence sector.
The package includes a range of legislative and non-legislative proposals aimed at simplifying security and defence procurement, facilitating defence investments, and supporting the defence industry.
Amendments to existing EU funding programmes
On 18 December 2025, the Council adopted a regulation to incentivise defence-related investments under the EU budget.
The new rules aim at facilitating faster, more flexible and coordinated investments in the European defence technological and industrial base.
Private investments in the defence sector
The ReArm Europe plan / Readiness 2030 also aims to mobilise private capital through the European Investment Bank and by accelerating the savings and investments union.
Contributions from the European Investment Bank
In March 2025, the board of directors the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group decided to expand the scope of activities eligible to receive financing in the area of security and defence, to ensure that as few activities as possible are excluded.
Military equipment, infrastructure, services and technologies now qualify for financing, while weapons and ammunitions remain excluded. Europe’s security and defence is also now a strategic priority of the EIB, after the board of directors decided to make security and defence one of the EIB’s horizontal public policy goals.
In June 2025, the EIB decided to triple the intermediated financing available to Europe’s defence-industry suppliers to €3 billion. The boost in potential EIB lending to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the defence industry is meant to help SMEs overcome the funding obstacles that many of them face.
- Strengthening Europe's security and defence industry (European Investment Bank)
- EIB triples financing for banks to provide liquidity to SMEs in the supply chain of Europe’s defence industry (European Investment Bank)
Savings and investments union
The increase of private investment in security and defence, in particular through the savings and investments union, is another pillar of the ReArm Europe plan / Readiness 2030. This union will make it easier to mobilise private savings and channel investments into critical sectors of the economy, such as defence, for those who wish to invest in them.
The savings and investments union aims to create better financial opportunities for EU citizens.
See also
EU defence in numbers
EU-NATO cooperation
A Strategic Compass for security and defence
Last review: 17 June 2026