The White Paper for European Defence – Readiness 2030 proposes the following measures to close critical capability gaps and build a strong defence industrial base:

Greater military capabilities

EU Member States are responsible for Defence. They need to obtain the defence capabilities they need for Europe to defend itself and to deter against threats. 

The EU can help Member States reach that goal, through aggregating demand for and encouraging the collective procurement of defence equipment. 

Seven priority areas have been identified in line with the decision taken by EU Member States at the European Council of 6 March: 

1. Air and missile defence
2. Artillery systems
3. Ammunition and missiles
4. Drones and anti-drones systems
5. Military mobility
6. AI, quantum, cyber and electronic warfare and
7. Strategic enablers and critical infrastructure protection including strategic airlift, air-to-air refuelling, maritime domain awareness, and protection of space assets.

European Union, 2025

Stepping up support to Ukraine

A surge in capabilities is important to increase military assistance to Ukraine urgently, for the country to defend itself against Russia’s war of aggression, and to be in a position of strength to reach a just and lasting peace. 

Furthermore, Ukraine will be more and more associated with EU defence projects; similarly, Ukraine's defence industry will become further integrated into the European defence technological and industrial base. Investment in Ukraine’s security is an investment in Europe’s security.

Making European defence industry stronger, more competitive, more innovative

Working together, we are stronger. To be less fragmented, reach economies of scale, and also ensure predictability for the defence industry, Member States will be encouraged to aggregate demand and place contracts together. This will create jobs, foster economic growth, and provide welcome support for the European defence industry. 

By attracting new players and supporting investments in disruptive innovations (for instance, AI and quantum technology), and by learning from the battlefield experiences of the Ukrainian defence industry, Europe will better able to deter adversaries. 

Strengthening the European defence industry will also rely on efforts to simplify legislation and streamline EU defence public procurement rules, and to deepen the EU-wide market for defence equipment. 

Greater joint investment in defence 

For too long, we have under-invested in defence. To be ready, we need a surge in defence investment. The White Paper proposes ways for Member States to invest in defence to build up European readiness over the long-term. 

The ReArm Europe Plan provides options to support a massive increase in defence investments and defence spending. These proposals could unlock up to EUR 800 billion over the coming years. 

Strengthening partnerships with like-minded countries around the world. 

Threats to security today know no borders; fostering partnerships is therefore essential in order to strengthen European and global security. It is only by working with our partners, that we are able to tackle today’s threats effectively. 

Tailored partnerships with bilateral and multilateral partners across the globe will be enhanced to address in a mutually-beneficial way a wide range of security challenges, including in the field of capability development and innovation.

While the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) remains the cornerstone of collective defence in Europe, a stronger EU Defence will benefit the transatlantic security and help EU Member States to reach their NATO capability targets.

Enhancing European readiness for worst-case scenarios

By working with Member States to improve military mobility, to stockpile essential resources and to strengthen external borders, notably the land border with Russia and Belarus.

The European Commission also presented, as part of the ReArm Europe Plan/Readiness 2030 announced by European Commission President von der Leyen, an ambitious defence package providing financial levers to EU Member States to drive an investment surge in defence capabilities. 

It proposes new financial means to strengthen European defence. 

It includes: 

Measures to unleash the use of public funding at national level. 

The Commission has invited Member States to activate the national escape clause of the Stability and Growth Pact, which will provide them additional budgetary space to increase their defence spending, within the EU fiscal rules. 

A new dedicated instrument for Security Action for Europe (SAFE)

 In light of the current exceptional circumstances, the Commission will raise up to €150 billion on the capital markets, drawing on its well-established unified funding approach to help EU Member States rapidly and substantially increase investments in Europe's defence capabilities. These funds will be disbursed to interested Member States upon demand, on the basis of national plans. Pending the adoption of the draft Regulation by the Council, it will also allow Ukraine, EEA EFTA countries, acceding countries, candidate countries, potential candidates and countries having signed a Security and Defence Partnerships with the EU to join common procurements. They would be able to negotiate specific, mutually beneficial bilateral or multilateral agreements with the EU on the participation of their respective industries in such procurements.

Accelerating the Savings and Investments Union

The ReArm Europe Plan/Readiness 2030 also relies on the European Investment Bank Group to widen the scope of its lending to defence and security projects, while safeguarding its financing capacity. Lastly, the Savings and Investments Union Strategy, adopted by the European Commission on 19 March 2025, will make it easier to mobilise private savings into more efficient capital markets and channel investments into critical sectors of the economy, such as defence, for those who wish to invest in them.

European Union, 2025