The European Union plans to emphasize a “strong transatlantic partnership” on defence, a senior Commission official confirmed on Monday. While cooperation with non-EU suppliers like the US will remain vital in the short term, the EU seeks long-term independence. Andrius Kubilius, the EU’s first Commissioner for Defence and Space, reiterated the need to reduce foreign dependency.
Kubilius, speaking at an event hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce to the EU, stressed unity among democracies against authoritarian adversaries such as Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea. He called for a “Big Bang” overhaul of Europe’s defence industry to boost its capabilities and autonomy. He noted that 75% of publicly announced defence orders from February 2022 to mid-2023 came from outside Europe, according to the Aerospace, Security and Defence Industry group.
Balancing Short-Term Needs and Long-Term Goals
Guillaume de La Brosse, head of the EU defence industrial policy unit, acknowledged current reliance on non-EU suppliers but emphasized the importance of addressing this imbalance. “Reducing dependencies is essential to justify heavy defence investments to taxpayers,” de La Brosse argued.
Member states remain divided over how strictly foreign companies can access EU defence funds. Poland and the Netherlands support flexible rules for non-EU suppliers, while others prefer stricter requirements. EU delegations are debating a proposal to mandate that at least 65% of components for funded defence projects come from within the bloc.
The proposed €1.5 billion European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP) seeks to boost the domestic defence sector while maintaining cooperation with trusted non-EU partners. France has advocated for even stricter criteria, suggesting a domestic content requirement of 80%. Despite the disagreements, the Hungarian presidency aims to finalize the EDIP framework by year-end.
De La Brosse denied that the EU is pursuing protectionism, emphasizing that member states remain free to procure from non-EU suppliers. In September, major European defence companies, including Airbus, Rheinmetall, and Leonardo, supported targeting EU funds toward projects with significant domestic input. They assured that this approach would not hinder cooperation with non-EU partners like the UK.
By prioritizing domestic development while maintaining external partnerships, the EU hopes to strengthen its defence capabilities and strategic autonomy.
