European Commissioner for Defence Andrius Kubilius called for a new intergovernmental treaty to establish a 'genuine European Defence Union' that could include the UK, Norway, and Ukraine, speaking at the Annual Conference of the Commission Legal Service in April 2026. He argued that existing EU treaties, particularly the Treaty on European Union, may hinder collective defence action and raised eleven detailed legal and institutional questions on overcoming national fragmentation and shifting from a US-centric NATO model to European-led defence responsibility.
This proposal follows Kubilius' earlier defence of EU defence policy on April 7, 2026, where he navigated treaty limits and sovereignty concerns after his call for a 100,000-strong European army. On April 15, he clarified criteria and oversight for the Security Action for Europe (SAFE), addressing how companies qualify as EU-based under the procurement initiative. That same day, the Commission invested €1.07 billion in 57 defence projects under the European Defence Fund, signalling increased EU-level defence integration.
The debate over EU defence powers has intensified in the European Parliament. On April 15, MEPs Sven Janning and Catarina Avelino clashed at the SEDE meeting over the extent of EU powers, with Janning advocating deeper integration and Avelino stressing national sovereignty. On April 14, the Parliament's Security and Defence Committee debated the European Investment Bank's role in defence financing, with MEPs and EIB Vice-President Robert de Groot divided over national versus pan-European projects.
Kubilius' speech also echoes the EEAS's push for strengthened EU military support to Ukraine on April 1, 2026, and the broader geopolitical shift in European security architecture. He proposed unified political leadership through a European Security Council and common defence structures like rapid reaction forces or a European military headquarters, though he stopped short of concrete deadlines or budget allocations. The proposal implies increased financial commitments for EU citizens and taxpayers, while national governments may need to cede sovereignty for collective efficiency. NATO could see a redefined role as the EU assumes more primary defence responsibilities, potentially impacting transatlantic relations.
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