EU Backs Boost in Defence Funding

In a move to bolster Europe’s defence capabilities, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have approved measures to enhance EU support for security and defence investments. The new legislation, part of the ReArm Europe Plan, aims to channel EU funding into defence and security sectors, particularly benefitting small companies and dual-use projects such as military mobility and fuel infrastructure.

The Industry, Research and Energy committee adopted amendments to major EU funding programs, including the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP), Horizon Europe, the European Defence Fund (EDF), the Digital Europe programme (DEP), and the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). These amendments are designed to increase investment in defence-related projects, with a focus on societal resilience, critical infrastructure protection, and disaster response.

MEPs emphasized the importance of reducing the EU’s reliance on non-EU countries for strategic materials and technologies. They also highlighted the necessity to support Ukraine’s defence industry, aiming to integrate it into relevant EU programs and align it with European standards. This initiative reflects the EU’s strategic objective to enhance its defence industrial base without creating new funding lines.

Rihard Kols, a leading MEP from Latvia, stated, “This vote is a clear and unified signal: Europe must act swiftly and decisively to strengthen its defence industrial base and streamline cross-border cooperation.” The draft legislation was passed with a majority vote, paving the way for negotiations with the Council of Ministers, pending full parliamentary plenary notification.

The proposal follows the European Commission’s earlier initiative to boost defence-related investments within the EU budget, responding to escalating geopolitical threats. This effort is part of the broader Joint White Paper for European Defence Readiness 2030 strategy, which seeks to increase the EU’s strategic autonomy and competitiveness in the defence sector.