The European Parliament’s Winter 2025 Eurobarometer survey shows historic levels of approval for EU membership, linked to peace and security. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said: “Two thirds of Europeans want the EU to play a greater role in protecting them. This is a clear call to action, to which we will respond. Europe needs […]
Commission presents the White Paper for European Defence and the ReArm Europe Plan/Readiness 2030
On March 19th, the Commission and the High Representative presented a White Paper for European Defence – Readiness 2030. The Commission has also presented, as part of the ReArm Europe Plan/Readiness 2030, an ambitious defence package providing financial levers to EU Member States to drive an investment surge in defence capabilities. While the ReArm Europe Plan/Readiness […]
Munich Security Conference 2025: President von der Leyen calls for a “more pragmatic, more focused, more determined Europe”
President Ursula von der Leyen attended the annual Munich Security Conference and gave a keynote speech in which she described a world with competing visions and a more transactional approach to global affairs. She stressed that Europe must change in order to thrive in this new reality. As the Commission’s actions have shown in the first weeks of its new mandate, the EU […]
What will the Commission do in 2025? Discover its work programme
The Commission has outlined plans to boost competitiveness, enhance security and strengthen economic resilience this year, with the announcement of its 2025 work programme. This is accompanied by a plan to reduce administrative burdens and simplify EU rules. Every year, the Commission sets out a list of actions it will take in the following year. This time around, the […]
1 billion EUR from the European Defence Fund for defence technologies
Yesterday, the Commission has adopted the fifth annual Work Programme under the European Defence Fund (EDF), allocating over €1 billion to defence collaborative research and development projects. With the 2025 EDF Work Programme, the Commission unlocks significant additional funding to support the development of critical defence technologies and capabilities. The Work Programme allocates around €100 […]
EU security and defence: Council sets out five main priorities
The Council approved conclusions on EU security and defence in a context of an unprecedented combination of threats and challenges, such as Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, and increased tensions in the Middle East, the Sahel and other areas of the world. Since the start of Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against […]
Commission invests over €1 billion in 54 ambitious defence industrial projects through the European Defence Fund
the Commission announced the results of the 2023 calls for proposals under the European Defence Fund (EDF) amounting to €1,031 million of EU funding to support 54 outstanding joint European defence research and development projects. The selected projects will support technological excellence across a wide range of defence capabilities in critical areas, including cyber defence, ground, air […]
The Commission allocates €500 million to ramp up ammunition production
The Commission allocated the €500 million foreseen under the Act in Support of Ammunition Production (ASAP). This will allow the European defence industry to ramp up its ammunition production capacity to 2 million shells per year by the end of 2025. The Commission also launched the Work Programme for the instrument for the reinforcement of the European defence […]
First ever defence industrial strategy and a new defence industry programme to enhance Europe’s readiness and security
The European Commission and the High Representative presented the first-ever European Defence Industrial Strategy at EU level and proposed an ambitious set of new actions to support the competitiveness and readiness of its defence industry. Two years ago, Russia’s unjustified, on-going war of aggression against Ukraine marked the return of high-intensity conflict on our continent. The […]