Written by Clare Ferguson and Sebastian Clapp.
Russia’s attack on Ukraine turned out to be merely the opening salvo in a deteriorating global security scenario. Security has become a top concern for Europeans – and this concern has deepened. More than two thirds of Europeans (68 %) believe their country is under threat, and 52 % trust the EU to strengthen security and defence. The European Parliament has called for the EU to move towards a more unified defence stance, based on credible deterrence, operational readiness, and continued support for Ukraine.
To ensure all EU countries are able to rely on a robust defence against attack, the EU roadmap to defence readiness by 2030 aims at overcoming defence industry fragmentation and a dependence on non-EU suppliers through coordinated investment, collaborative spending and encouraging a robust industrial and technological base. While EU countries increased their defence spending in 2025, Parliament is keen to see EU governments work together more closely to unlock the economies of scale that joint defence procurement could bring. Such coordinated defence spending could benefit the EU’s rapidly-expanding defence industry, with several new financial and legislative initiatives promoting cross-border cooperation in the industry.
Four years into Russia’s war, Parliament still stands firm with Ukraine. Parliament held an extraordinary plenary session in February 2026, marking this sombre anniversary, with President Metsola remarking ‘Ukraine’s security is Europe’s security’. Parliament also voted in favour of a €90 billion support loan package to strengthen Ukraine’s defence and economy. As the loan guarantee requires an amendment to the EU multiannual financial framework, the file requires a unanimous decision in the Council – which to date has been blocked by Hungary.
Presciently, the EU already launched its first approach to boosting defence with the European Defence Fund in 2021. To increase cooperation between EU countries, this €8 billion fund promotes joint defence research and capability development, defence innovation and cross-border industrial cooperation through over 160 collaborative projects. However, the interim evaluation of the European Defence Fund (EDF) highlighted the need for funding to be faster, more flexible, and for better definition of projects for real strategic impact.
The EDF is just one way in which the EU aims to tackle the European defence industry’s high fragmentation, where Member States take national positions that nevertheless undermine overall efficiency, interoperability and competitiveness at the EU level. Today’s goal to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of EU defence spending is to develop a true common market for Europe’s security and defence industry. Less red-tape and greater defence alignment between EU countries could lead to governments enjoying the advantages of economies of scale in both industrial processes and procurement. Companies operating in the European defence technological and industrial base (known as EDTIB) could expand, and less funding would be lost to procurement from non-EU firms. Parliament is a strong supporter of a competitive EU defence market, which would lead to improved deterrence and resilience, and help EU countries better protect their sovereignty in today’s unpredictable geopolitical environment.
In a resolution on its 2025 annual report on the implementation of the EU common foreign and security policy, Parliament reiterated that the EU must defend its interests and called for increased support for Ukraine, an expanded presence in the Middle East, and underlined the need for close coordination with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). As many EU countries are also members of NATO, they are subject to Article 5, the collective defence clause. The armed forces of one or several EU Member States may therefore be called on to defend a border or a NATO Ally and so need to be able to move swiftly across EU territory. However, military mobility today faces considerable barriers – outdated, inadequate or missing infrastructure (such as bridges) and inconsistent legislation. While some improvements have already been seen on customs and transport procedures, tackling the under-investment and regulatory barriers in this area as a collective could lead to benefits almost three times higher than when EU countries do not coordinate their investment.
Returning to the situation in Ukraine, military drones are the main cause of casualties among both civilians and troops. The EU is already using EDF funding to develop drone technology and countermeasures, with EU governments already investing heavily in drone production. Parliament is monitoring the situation carefully to ensure robust ethical guardrails and strong accountability – and is particularly concerned that military drone innovation should not lead to development of lethal autonomous weapons.
Finally, to help Ukraine defend its borders and its people, the question of how to use Russian central bank assets, frozen by Western countries because of Russia’s attack, to sustain Ukraine against its aggressor(s) has not been resolved. While legal opinions on the lawfulness of confiscating Russia’s money diverge, G7 countries have already agreed to use the extraordinary revenues generated by the assets to service and repay a US$50 billion G7 loan to Ukraine. The EU channels its support for Ukraine through the European Peace Facility, and has already allocated €6.1 billion to address military and defence needs (2022-2024). This funding adds to military support directly provided by EU Member States, leading to an estimated €63.2 billion in total support for the Ukrainian armed forces. Fully behind the principle that Russia should pay for the damage it has inflicted, Parliament remains unwavering in its support for Ukraine.
Further reading:
- European defence readiness roadmap
- EU defence funding
- EU joint defence procurement
- European defence industry
- EU support for Ukraine for 2026–2027
- The interim evaluation of the European Defence Fund
- Building a common market for European defence
- Military mobility
- Towards a comprehensive and beneficial approach to military mobility
- Military drone systems in the EU and global context: Types, capabilities and regulatory frameworks
- Confiscation of immobilised Russian sovereign assets: State of play, arguments and scenarios
- European Peace Facility – For Ukraine, but not only
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