On 31 May 2026, European Commissioner for Defence Andrius Kubilius, addressing the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Vilnius, called on national parliaments to lead the debate on a European Defence Union and to integrate Ukraine into European defence architecture. Speaking in his home country, Kubilius stressed that Russia still heavily outproduces the EU in defence, warning that this creates a temptation for Putin, and urged a doubling down on defence spending and support for Ukraine.
Kubilius outlined three priorities: European security architecture, defence industry reform, and Ukraine. On architecture, he argued that the US is asking Europeans to take primary responsibility for conventional defence inside NATO, and questioned whether a European Defence Union could make the European pillar stronger. On industry, he criticised the lack of a single defence market, noting that 70-80% of procurement goes to national primes and 80% of contracts are awarded directly without tender, stifling competition and innovation. He contrasted this with Ukraine, which increased defence production 50-fold since 2022. On Ukraine, Kubilius urged integrating Ukraine's military into European defence structures, proposing Ukraine's membership in a European Defence Union with a European Security Council, even before NATO or EU membership is finalised.
The speech comes amid heightened tensions on the Eastern Flank, with Kubilius expressing solidarity with Romania and applauding NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte's pledge to defend every inch of NATO territory. Kubilius framed the EU and NATO as complementary: NATO providing military might, the EU financial and industrial power. He called on national parliaments to push governments to create a single defence market, arguing that breaking the grip of traditional primes would enable modern defence doctrines and allow SMEs and start-ups to compete.
Kubilius's proposals represent a significant push for deeper European defence integration, shifting from national sovereignty toward EU-level coordination. The speech contained concrete proposals: a European Defence Union, a European Security Council, and Ukraine's inclusion in both. It also set a clear policy direction toward more assertive, integrated European defence, with a conciliatory tone toward Ukraine but a demanding one toward EU member states to reform procurement.
Stakeholder impacts: EU defence industry incumbents (primes) would face increased competition and reduced protected markets, a major negative impact. EU SMEs and start-ups would gain new market access, a positive impact. National defence ministries would lose procurement autonomy, a moderate negative impact. Ukraine would gain integration into European defence structures, a major positive impact. The trade-off is between national sovereignty and collective defence efficiency, with Kubilius clearly favouring the latter.