EU Commission proposes five major cross-border defence projects
The projects target drones, maritime defence and missile systems, with 18 member states involved and Ukraine joining four, officials said.
- On Friday, The European Commission unveiled five cross-border defence projects targeting drones, maritime, space, air power, and missile defence to strengthen member states' collective military capabilities.
- A recent European Defence Agency report found collaborative procurement accounted for just 24 percent of defence investment in 2025, with equipment cycles remaining "largely unsynchronised" across member states.
- Endorsed under the European Defence Industry Programme, the projects received €325 million in initial funding and involve 26 members, Norway, and Ukraine, with combined ambition of around €190 billion by 2036.
- Last month, the Franco-German Future Combat Air System was scrapped after commercial disputes between Dassault and Airbus; European Investment Bank President Nadia Calvi approved a €3 billion loan for Airbus last week.
- These projects reinforce Europe's eastern flank and address critical capability gaps, arriving days before the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, where allies will discuss the 3.5 percent GDP defence spending target.
24 Articles
24 Articles
EU Proposes to Launch Five Major Pan-European Weapons Programmes to Strengthen the Military Industry
Brussels proposes to allocate €325 million to joint strategic initiatives to boost key defence capabilities.
The EU's governing body has defined five pillars of European Defence Projects of Common Interest.
Drones, air defence and maritime safety are the areas. The five projects are subject to the approval of the EU Council and have an initial amount of EUR 325 million.
Commission unveils five joint defence projects to spur EU teamwork
In a bid to end the problem of European Union nations procuring defence capabilities separately, the European Commission is trying to kickstart momentum with the participation of 18 member states – and Ukraine.
Europe Unites: Major Cross-Border Defence Projects Unveiled
The European Commission has proposed five cross-border defence projects, aimed at enhancing collaboration among EU nations and partners like Norway and Ukraine. These projects involve drones, maritime defence, air and missile defence, and space-based capabilities, with significant EU funding to bolster shared security responses and industrial competitiveness.
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