Kubilius Calls for a New European Security Architecture At the Forum Europa event, Commissioner Andrius Kubilius laid out a compelling vision to strengthen Europe’s defence. Urging an overhaul of outdated postwar doctrines, Kubilius echoed Commission President von der Leyen’s call for a “clear-eyed” appraisal of the EU’s foreign, security, and defence policies, which he argued have not kept pace with evolving threats such as Russian aggression and shifting transatlantic priorities towards the Indo-Pacific.
Defence as a Common EU Task Kubilius highlighted the EU’s structural challenge: 27 distinct national defence policies and armies fragment Europe’s military and industrial capabilities, weakening its global position. He pointed to Article 42(2) of the Treaty on European Union, which mandates progressive framing towards a common defence. To realize this, Kubilius proposed stronger political cooperation and a European Security Council to provide strategic top-down leadership. This measure aims to overcome institutional paralysis and fragmentary decision-making, fostering a true European defence union alongside NATO.
Supporting Ukraine and Scaling Industry Kubilius emphasized EU support for Ukraine’s battle-tested military forces and proposed integrating Ukraine’s defence industry with Europe’s as part of a future European Defence Union. He stressed the urgent need to scale up production capabilities, particularly of missiles and air-defence systems, highlighting Ukraine’s remarkable industrial scaling during wartime as a model.
Political and Industrial Challenges While defense spending has increased, Kubilius warned that without a unified market and streamlined decision-making, inefficiencies and delays will persist. He called for swift political actions and industrial harmonization to expedite joint weapon development and procurement.
Stakeholders impacted by these proposals include EU Member States, whose sovereignty over defence policies may be curtailed in favor of collective EU-level decision-making. Defence industries stand to benefit from a harmonized market and larger scale production but face pressures to consolidate and cooperate across borders. Ukrainians may see an expanded role and integration within European defence frameworks. Meanwhile, EU taxpayers may bear increased costs associated with building up indigenous capabilities but could gain enhanced security and geopolitical influence. The proposals mark a significant push toward deepening EU integration in defence policy and industry, shifting away from national fragmentation and toward a more assertive, independent European security posture.
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