Security and defence

The EU is ramping up its defence readiness and investing more in defence to deal with immediate and future challenges and threats.

Bold steps are being taken, including in the context of the existential challenge posed by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

Collage including a man wearing a jacket from a CSDP civilian mission, a radar antenna and the stars of the EU flag.

Increasing defence expenditure

The EU and its member states are ramping up their defence spending and investment at a time of a radically changed security situation.

In 2024, member states' defence expenditure reached €343 billion, with €106 billion spent on investments. In 2025, it will reach an estimated €381 billion.

The EU plan for defence readiness

Security and defence remain national competences. The EU complements and amplifies member states’ individual efforts, by supporting increased national defence spending and using EU budgetary resources in the defence sector. Recent EU initiatives include:

Security Action for Europe

A financial instrument providing up to €150 billion in loans to help member states increase defence investments through common procurement.

Budgetary flexibility

The EU allows member states to use the national escape clause to give them additional budgetary flexibility and therefore spend more on defence.

European defence industry programme

A funding programme providing €1.5 billion in the form of grants to boost Europe's defence industry in the period 2025-2027.

European defence fund

This fund promotes cross-border cooperation on defence research and development. It has a budget of €8.8 billion for the period 2021-2027.

Simplification

New EU measures will simplify the legal and administrative framework in the defence sector. The legislative package is part of the EU’s simplification agenda.

Private investment

The EU aims to mobilise private investment in the defence sector through the European Investment Bank and by accelerating the savings and investments union.

Working for a safe Europe and a stable world

The EU has no standing army. It relies on the assets provided by EU member states to deploy civilian and military missions and operations across the world, in the framework of the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP).

Military missions and operations benefit from financing under the European Peace Facility, an instrument that also supports the armed forces of non-EU countries through assistance measures.

Civilian and military missions and operations

A military helmet, an olive branch and the stars of the EU flag.

European Peace Facility

Cooperation with the UN, NATO and non-EU countries

Partnerships in security and defence are an indispensable pillar of the EU’s efforts to promote peace around the world. The EU cooperates closely with the UN on peace operations and crisis management while NATO remains essential for Euro-Atlantic security and stability.

The EU maintains various types of arrangements with non-EU countries, including bilateral security and defence partnerships.

Military support for Ukraine

From the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the EU and its member states have significantly stepped up their military support for Ukraine’s armed forces.

EU military assistance aims to strengthen the capabilities and resilience of the Ukrainian armed forces and to protect the civilian population from Russia's military aggression.