The EU is committed to a “strong transatlantic partnership” on defence, a senior Commission official confirmed on Monday. However, the bloc recognizes the need to reduce its reliance on foreign suppliers in the long term.
The new EU Commission expects deeper cooperation with the incoming Trump administration, especially in security and defence. Andrius Kubilius, the EU’s first Commissioner for Defence and Space, highlighted this during an event at the European Parliament. He emphasized the need to balance immediate collaboration with the US while addressing Europe’s long-term defence independence.
Strengthening Europe’s Defence Industry
Kubilius called for a transformative overhaul of Europe’s defence sector to boost capabilities and reduce foreign reliance. Between February 2022 and mid-2023, 75% of new EU defence orders originated from non-European suppliers, according to the ASD.
Guillaume de La Brosse, head of the EU defence industrial policy unit, echoed concerns about dependency. He stressed the importance of justifying defence investments to taxpayers by reducing reliance on external suppliers.
Currently, member states are divided over third-country access to EU defence funds. Poland and the Netherlands advocate greater flexibility, while others push for stricter conditions. Delegations are negotiating a requirement for 65% of defence project components to be sourced within the EU for eligibility under the proposed €1.5 billion European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP).
Balancing Independence and Collaboration
The Hungarian presidency aims to finalize the EDIP agreement by year-end, with ambassadors discussing details tomorrow. Despite disagreements, EU officials insist the policy is not protectionist. Member states retain freedom in procurement decisions, according to de La Brosse.
In September, 28 European defence companies, including Airbus, Rheinmetall, and Leonardo, urged member states to target EU financial support towards domestic suppliers. The companies proposed funding restrictions on products with less than 65% EU content, with France advocating an even stricter 80% threshold.
The signatories clarified that these measures would not block cooperation with non-EU partners, such as the UK, outside EU-funded frameworks. The proposal aims to strengthen the European defence industry while preserving flexibility for broader partnerships.