Von der Leyen: EU plans over €200 billion in defence spending in 2028–2034 budget

The European Union's next seven-year budget will allocate more than €200 billion to defence-related priorities, marking the first time the bloc's long-term financial framework includes such substantial military spending, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.

Speaking at the Defence Industry Forum on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, von der Leyen said the proposed 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework would earmark €131 billion for military capabilities and €71 billion for military mobility, including the modernisation of roads, bridges, and tunnels to facilitate the movement of troops and heavy military equipment across Europe, Calber.Az reports per foreign media. 

She also highlighted a range of EU initiatives designed to support defence investment by member states, saying they could help mobilise up to €950 billion for defence purposes across the bloc by 2030.

The proposed budget would represent a historic shift in EU spending priorities, making the 2028–2034 financial framework the first in the bloc's history to dedicate such a large share of funding to defence.

Last year, NATO leaders agreed to raise the alliance's defence spending benchmark from 2% to 5% of GDP by 2035, arguing that the increase was necessary to address the long-term threat posed by Russia as well as global terrorism. Spain negotiated an exemption from the new spending target, provided it continues to meet NATO's required military capability goals.

By Sabina Mammadli