Defence`s Feeds

Note. Pandur Evo 8x8

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The European Defence Agency (EDA) has published its annual Defence Data report for 2024-2025, detailing defence spending from all 27 EU Member States.  In 2024, defence expenditure by the 27 EU Member States reached an unprecedented €343 billion — a 19% rise on 2023 — bringing spending to 1.9% of GDP. The increase, driven largely by record levels of equipment procurement and rising investment in research and development, reflects Member States’ determination to strengthen Europe’s military capabilities in response to the evolving security environment.  

For the full document, please see here

For the first time, defence investment exceeded €100 billion, accounting for 31% of total expenditure, the highest share recorded by EDA since data collection began. While spending continues to grow and is forecast to climb further in 2025, it remains below the levels of military powers such as the United States — underlining the need for sustained investment and greater collaboration to maximise efficiency and ensure interoperability across the EU’s armed forces. 

Head of EDA, HRVP Kaja Kallas, said: "Europe is spending record amounts on defence to keep our people safe, and we will not stop there. This investment will be funnelled into everything from research and development to the joint procurement and production of essential defence components. The European Union is pulling every financial and political lever we have to support our Member States and European companies in this effort. Defence today is not a nice-to-have but fundamental for the protection of our citizens. This must be the era of European defence."

EDA Chief Executive André Denk said: “It is encouraging to see EU Member States taking their defence spending to record levels. Meeting the new NATO target of 3.5% of GDP will require even more effort, spending a total of more than €630 billion a year. Yet we must also cooperate closely, find economies of scale and increase interoperability. EDA stands more ready than ever to support Member States in this endeavour." 

   2025 Forecast:

• EU defence spending is projected to reach €381 billion in 2025 (vs €343 billion in 2024)
• Bloc’s spending is seen at 2.1% of GDP in 2025, exceeding the previous NATO 2% target for the first time since EDA records began
• Defence investment is set to reach close to €130 billion in 2025 (vs €106 billion in 2024)
• Research and Development (R&D) spending may increase to €17 billion in 2025 (vs €13 billion in 2024) 

2024 European Defence Spending – Key Findings:

• In 2024, 25 Member States increased their defence spending in real terms, one more than in 2023, while only two countries slightly decreased defence spending. Sixteen Member States raised their expenditure by more than 10%, compared to eleven in 2023.  
• In 2024, the total defence expenditure per active military personnel reached a record €249,000, up from €211,000 in 2023 and significantly more than the €138,000 spent in 2014. 
• In 2024, 24 Member States met the 20% benchmark on defence investment, up from 20 in 2023, an accelerating trend as countries direct an increasingly larger share of their expenditure to investments.
• Defence equipment procurement rose by 39% from 2023 to €88 billion in 2024, with spending in 2025 projected to exceed €100 billion. The upward trend is expected to continue as several Member States have announced further budget increases and signed major procurement deals in 2024.
• Equipment procurement represents more than 80% of defence investment. While short-term needs have led Member States to prioritise existing solutions, R&D investment has grown.
• A significant rise in R&D spending is essential to develop next-generation capabilities and reduce dependence on foreign markets. Defence cooperation offers benefits such as economies of scale, lower costs, improved interoperability, and reduced duplication.
• In 2024, defence R&D expenditure increased. The 20% rise in 2024 represents a notable acceleration compared to the 6% growth recorded in 2023. Defence R&D spending reached €13 billion in 2024.

Length of video : 90'

Disclaimer : The interpretation of debates serves to facilitate communication and does not constitute an authentic record of proceedings. Only the original speech or the revised written translation is authentic.
Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Length of video : 45'

Disclaimer : The interpretation of debates serves to facilitate communication and does not constitute an authentic record of proceedings. Only the original speech or the revised written translation is authentic.
Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

EU Ministers of Defence met today, 29 August 2025, in Copenhagen.

Troels Lund Poulsen, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of Denmark, and Kaja Kallas, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, chaired the meeting, during which Ministers discussed the EU's military support to Ukraine, European defence readiness, and the EU's military missions and operations.

When it comes to European defence readiness, several Ministers recalled the key role of EDA as the established platform for national Ministries of Defence to cooperate on capabilities at EU level.  

In line with its mandate, EDA will continue to support all 27 Member States and adapt its capability expert groups to reflect the new security environment and our common objective to enhance European defence readiness by 2030.

On 1 September, SEDE Members will discuss two draft own initiative reports which will be presented in the Committee for Security and Defence. One on European Defence Readiness 2030: assessment of needs, which addresses the most pressing investment needs to contribute to a stronger, more coordinated European defence, while mitigating the consequences of past underinvestment. The other report, drafted jointly with the TRAN Committee, focuses on military mobility,
which is crucial to enhance the ability of Member States and Allied forces to swiftly move military personnel and assets across the EU to protect EU citizens.
Meeting agenda and documents
Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

DRAFT REPORT on European Defence Readiness 2030: assessment of needs
Committee on Security and Defence
Christophe Gomart

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

From 14 to 17 April 2025, the 7-Member delegation of the Committee on Security and Defence (SEDE) conducted a mission to Chișinău, Moldova and Odesa, Ukraine, reaffirming its strategic commitment to supporting the security, resilience, and democratic integrity of the EU's eastern partners and candidate countries. This marks SEDE’s second visit to Moldova in two years and SEDE’s first visit to Odesa since the start of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
Location : Chisinau (Moldova), Odesa (Ukraine)
SEDE mission report including the final programme
Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

A 4-Member delegation of the Committee on Security and Defence travelled to Bosnia and Herzegovina to visit the EU’s EUFOR Althea operation. This was already the second visit of the SEDE Committee within two years (the last one as the Subcommittee in 2023) showing the keen interest of this committee to monitor the evolving security situation in a key country of the Western Balkans.
Location : Bosnia and Herzegovina
SEDE mission report including the programme
Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

A 6-Member delegation of the Committee on Security and Defence (SEDE) travelled from 5 to 8 February 2025 to Israel and Palestine. This was the first mission of SEDE as a fully-fledged Committee, reflecting SEDE’s strong interest and commitment to supporting the scaling-up of EU support to the region, in particular through the two CSDP missions.
Location : Israel and Palestine
SEDE report including the programme
Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The 6-Member SEDE delegation mission to the United Kingdom organised in close co-operation with AFET and INTA, was a very timely visit following the announcement by the President of the European Commission and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom to enhance strategic cooperation after their leaders’ meeting of 2 October 2024. The UK in particular has set out its ambition for an “enhanced EU-UK defence cooperation,” in light of Russia’s continuing war of aggression in Ukraine.
Location : London, United Kingdom
Press release
SEDE mission report including the programme
Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulations (EU) 2021/694, (EU) 2021/695, (EU) 2021/697, (EU) 2021/1153, (EU) 2023/1525 and 2024/795, as regards incentivising defence-related investments in the EU budget to implement the ReArm Europe Plan
Committee on Security and Defence
Thijs Reuten

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The next meeting of the Committee on Security and Defence (SEDE) is scheduled to take place on Monday, 1 September 2025 from 15.00-18.30 in Brussels (room ANTALL 4Q1).

Further information about the SEDE meeting can be found here.

_______________________

SEDE missions 2025:

• Norway - 27-30 May 2025
• Moldova and Ukraine - 14-17 April 2025
  
• Bosnia and Herzegovina - 24-27 February 2025
• Israel and Palestine - 5-8 February 2025

SEDE missions 2024:

• United Kingdom - 28-30 October 2024
• Ukraine - 25-26 October 2024

SEDE Committee meetings' calendar 2025
EP calendar 2025
SEDE meetings' calendar 2nd half of 2024 - 10th legislature
Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

European Defence Agency (EDA) Chief Executive André Denk travelled to Ukraine this week for his first official visit since taking office, aiming to reinforce defence cooperation and gain insight into the country’s wartime innovations.

In Kyiv, Denk met with high-level Ukrainian officials, including Presidential Adviser Alexander Kamyshin, Minister of Strategic Industries Herman Smetanin, Deputy Minister of Strategic Industries Davyd Aloian, Deputy Minister of Defence Sergiy Boyev, Deputy Chief of Defence Brigadier General Andrii Lebedenko. The meetings were organised in coordination with the European Commission and the European External Action Service.

Talks centred around Ukraine’s defence priorities and operational needs.

“I am eager to continue exploring how EDA could further support Ukraine based on our current work strands and the existing framework, and the Administrative Arrangement in place with the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence since 2015", said Denk.

The visit extended beyond the capital, with André Denk visiting several defence production sites and military facilities, including an operational command post in eastern Ukraine.

“I am highly impressed by Ukraine's Armed Forces' determination and courage as well as by all the bright Ukrainians who innovate and work in support of the soldiers on the frontline,” said Denk.

“Ukraine’s expertise with cutting-edge technologies and defence innovation tested directly on the battlefield are redefining modern warfare and are truly invaluable. There are many lessons we can learn, and closer cooperation can and will leverage both Ukraine’s and EU Member States’ defence capabilities,” he added.

In Eastern Ukraine, Denk met with Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi, Commander of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (picture below).

Ministers are holding a series of meetings in parliamentary committees to present the priorities of the Danish Presidency of the Council.
Committee on Constitutional Affairs
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development
Committee on Culture and Education
Committee on Development
Committee on Employment and Social Affairs
Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality
Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection
Committee on International Trade
Committee on Industry, Research and Energy
Committee on Legal Affairs
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
Committee on Fisheries
Committee on Regional Development
Committee on Public Health
Committee on Security and Defence
Committee on Transport and Tourism

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Length of video : 105'

Disclaimer : The interpretation of debates serves to facilitate communication and does not constitute an authentic record of proceedings. Only the original speech or the revised written translation is authentic.
Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP