EU plans tenfold surge in defence spending under new budget proposal

The European Commission is planning a sharp increase in military spending under the European Union’s next seven-year budget for 2028–2034.

EU Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius said the proposed allocation would rise tenfold to €131 billion, compared with €13 billion in the previous budget cycle, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

Kubilius made the remarks during a hearing before the European Parliament’s Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, where he stressed that defence and space should be key priorities in the upcoming financial framework.

“In the upcoming negotiations [on the new EU multiannual seven-year budget], I urge you to firmly defend positions on defence and space, bearing in mind the challenges we face; no trade-offs, no compromises are acceptable. €131 billion is an absolute minimum,” he told lawmakers.

By Vafa Guliyeva