Brussels (dpa) — Investment in defence is set to become significantly easier for EU member states under a new package of measures unveiled by the European Commission.
Aimed at accelerating the bloc’s military preparedness in the face of mounting threats, the proposals seek to cut red tape, improve access to EU funds, and streamline joint procurement across the continent.
The initiative, presented in Strasbourg on Tuesday, is designed to boost the efficiency of Europe’s defence industry and ensure faster delivery of critical capabilities.
“We need to ramp up our efforts to re-establish Europe’s defence capabilities by 2030 to provide a credible deterrence to Russian aggression,” EU Trade Commissioner European Valdis Dombrovskis said in Strasbourg.
Faster procedures, flexible rules
The commission is urging member states to make full use of existing exemptions in EU environmental law — for example in areas such as nature conservation or environmental impact assessments — to fast-track defence projects deemed to be in the public interest or responding to crises. The goal is to simplify procedures without amending the underlying legislation.
The proposals, which now face negotiations among member states and EU lawmakers, build on a broader strategic document released by the Commission in March outlining the future of European defence.
€800 billion target over four years
That strategy paper identifies seven critical capability gaps that must be addressed urgently to strengthen deterrence against Russia and other potential aggressors. These include air and missile defence systems, artillery, drones, and military transport.
To help finance the planned build-up, the commission is considering EU loans worth up to €150 billion ($173 billion) and exemptions from the bloc’s strict debt rules. The broader aim is to mobilize as much as €800 billion in defence investment over the next four years.
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