Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius, in a written answer on 18 June 2026, acknowledged that insufficient reporting by Member States on collaborative defence procurement hinders EU policy assessment but stated the Commission cannot impose consequences for non-compliance. The answer responds to a priority question from MEP Hannah Neumann (Verts/ALE) submitted on 6 May 2026, who highlighted that only 12 of 27 Member States provided data to the European Defence Agency (EDA) for the 2024–2025 analysis.
Kubilius stressed that defence remains a national competence and that the EDA, operating under the Council's authority, facilitates data collection without enforcement powers. He noted that the Commission relies on publicly available EDA data and other sources to support initiatives such as the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP) and the Security Action for Europe (SAFE). The answer contains no concrete proposals to improve reporting rates, instead pointing to the 2025 ReArm Europe Plan, under which Member States activating the Stability and Growth Pact's national escape clause must adhere to clearer accounting methodologies and stronger links between fiscal reporting and defence planning.
The Commissioner identified specific gaps caused by poor reporting, including hindered evaluation of interoperability, strategic autonomy, and EU funding effectiveness, as well as missed opportunities for further cooperation. However, the answer offers no timeline or mechanism to address the data shortfall, leaving the issue to voluntary Member State compliance.
Stakeholder impact
- EU institutions: The Commission's inability to enforce reporting limits its capacity to design evidence-based defence policies, potentially weakening the effectiveness of EDIP and SAFE.
- Member States: Non-reporting states face no direct penalties, preserving their sovereignty over defence data but risking exclusion from collaborative projects and EU funding opportunities.
- European Defence Agency: The EDA's analytical role is undermined by incomplete data, reducing its ability to support Council-level defence cooperation.
- EU defence industry: Inconsistent reporting creates uncertainty for companies planning joint procurement, potentially slowing cross-border collaboration and investment.