Euractiv: Europe struggles to reach consensus on defence

Serious disagreements persist between EU governments and the defence industry, despite official calls for rapid strengthening of European defence, Euractiv reports following recent Brussels conferences.

Amid the Ukraine conflict, European capitals, EU institutions, and arms manufacturers continue to face difficulties coordinating continental rearmament plans. Negotiations are often marked by conflicting signals, and implementation is slowed by the prioritisation of national interests.

The EU has allocated €1.5 billion to the European Defence Investment Programme and €150 billion through the SAFE credit mechanism to boost European arms procurement and production capacity, but progress remains behind target.

In 2025, EU countries submitted joint procurement plans, yet sources say the proposals lack detail: companies must account for European and non-European components themselves, while defence ministries have not yet provided precise technical specifications.

According to Euractiv, the gap between national authorities and the defence industry is further widened by mixed signals from the United States: Washington encourages Europe to expand domestic production, while NATO countries continue purchasing American weapons, reducing orders for European manufacturers.

By Jeyhun Aghazada