The EU plans to strengthen its transatlantic defence partnership while addressing dependency on foreign suppliers, a senior official stated. The incoming Trump administration is expected to foster further cooperation, particularly in security and defence. However, the EU aims to reduce its reliance on external suppliers over the long term, said Andrius Kubilius, the bloc’s first Commissioner for Defence and Space.
Kubilius emphasized the need for democracies to unite against authoritarian adversaries like Russia, Iran, North Korea, and China. He called for a “Big Bang” reform of Europe’s defence industry to enhance capabilities. In the short term, non-EU suppliers, including the US, will remain crucial. Over time, the EU defence sector seeks guarantees to boost investment and autonomy.
Reducing Dependency and Supporting Domestic Industry
Between February 2022 and mid-2023, 75% of EU defence sector orders came from non-European suppliers, the ASD reported. Guillaume de La Brosse, head of the defence industrial policy unit, acknowledged the imbalance and stressed the importance of reducing dependencies. He argued that addressing reliance on foreign suppliers justifies heavy defence investments to taxpayers.
EU member states are negotiating stricter rules for funding eligibility under the €1.5 billion European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP). Delegations are debating requiring 65% of defence project components to come from within the bloc. Countries like Poland and the Netherlands favor more flexibility for foreign companies accessing EU funds. The Hungarian presidency aims to finalize an agreement by year-end, with ambassadors set to discuss the issue further.
Despite differences, the Commission denies adopting a protectionist stance. De La Brosse emphasized that member states retain freedom in procurement policies. In September, 28 European defence firms, including Leonardo, SAAB, and Airbus, urged member states to prioritize EU-made products in funding allocations. They suggested restricting funding to products with at least 65% EU-origin components, with French companies pushing for 80%. However, this approach would not prevent cooperation with non-EU partners like the UK outside EU-funded frameworks.