Commissioner Andrius Kubilius addressed the European Parliament plenary on March 11, 2025, outlining his vision for the future of European defence in his speech introducing the White Paper on the subject. Kubilius framed this moment as a pivotal, once-in-a-generation opportunity demanding urgent, strategic decisions against a backdrop of Russian military escalation and shifting geopolitical focus of the United States toward Asia.
Emphasis on Consolidated EU Defence Spending and Industry Kubilius emphasized the vast capability gaps facing European defence, citing a shortfall of at least €500 billion for key military assets and additional hundreds of billions needed for air defence, space, and military mobility. While advocating for massively increased Member State defence spending, he underscored the indispensable role of the EU in coordinating such investments through "European scale," financial instruments, laws, and joint programs like the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP).
Concrete Proposals and Institutional Measures He outlined concrete policy tools such as activating the stability and growth pact's national escape clause, EU loans, reallocating existing funds like cohesion money, and leveraging private and European Investment Bank financing to support defence. The speech explicitly called for expedited agreement on EDIP to enable coordinated procurement and R&D to address fragmentation and improve efficiency, with plans to present full legal proposals ahead of the next European Council.
Political and Policy Cleavages Kubilius’ proposals lean decisively toward increasing EU-level coordination and centralization of defence investment, reflecting a shift away from fragmented national approaches toward stronger supranational involvement. This marks a move toward deeper EU integration in defence industrial policy and joint capability development, balancing national sovereignty against collective security imperatives. A focus on innovation, including AI and quantum technologies, signals prioritizing advanced tech over traditional methods.
Stakeholder Impacts Member States stand to increase defence budgets substantially but gain access to EU funding and joint procurement frameworks potentially reducing costs and duplication. The European defence industry may benefit from larger consolidated orders and streamlined regulation, but also faces pressures to meet accelerated demands. EU taxpayers may bear direct costs linked to expanded funding mechanisms. Ukraine benefits from sustained EU support, reinforcing its defence capacity amid conflict. The coordinated approach aims to improve collective security, but the scale of investment and legal changes necessitates navigating political complexities among diverse EU actors.
Kubilius clearly positions these measures as urgent and essential steps to confront an unprecedented security crisis. His speech signals a strategic pivot toward a more centralized, better-coordinated European defence posture with concrete institutional and financial commitments on the horizon.
← Atlas › News › Defence