European Union

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Written by Sebastian Clapp.

EU Member States’ defence expenditure rose significantly between 2021 and 2024. The EU has introduced several initiatives to complement national efforts in order to boost defence spending and collaboration.

Member States’ defence budgets

After severely under-investing in defence for years, EU Member States have significantly increased their defence spending since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In 2021, the combined defence budgets of the 27 EU Member States amounted to around €218 billion. In 2024, defence spending across the EU-27 already amounted to €343 billion, or 1.9 % of the EU’s gross domestic product. Projections indicate that in 2025. expenditure could reach €392 billion at current prices (€381 billion in 2024 prices), or 2.1 % of GDP. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member states agreed to a new defence investment commitment of 5 % of GDP at the 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague. By 2035, they vowed to dedicate a minimum of 3.5 % of GDP each year, to fund core defence needs and fulfil capability targets. In addition, they will allocate up to 1.5 % of GDP annually to tasks such as safeguarding critical infrastructure, securing networks, enhancing civil preparedness and resilience, fostering innovation, and reinforcing the defence industrial base. Increasing the guideline from 2 % to 3.5 % of GDP will demand significant additional spending for the 23 NATO member states that are also EU members, requiring an extra €254 billion and raising total defence expenditure to around €635 billion, according to the European Defence Agency.

Despite EU Member States’ sustained efforts to enhance readiness and strengthen their armed forces, they continue to lag behind other major powers in overall defence spending. The United States has consistently devoted over 3 % of GDP to defence since 2008; in 2024, it spent €845 billion, or 3.1 % of GDP – nearly two and a half times the combined EU total of €343 billion. EU defence budgets are set nationally, leading to fragmentation, duplication of effort and reduced efficiency. Although EU spending exceeds that reported by Russia (€107 billion) and China (€250 billion) – and those amounts are probably much higher than officially communicated – these countries are likely to achieve greater cost-effectiveness due to centralised planning, lower prices and less fragmentation. Russia’s defence budget reached an estimated €234 billion in 2024 in purchasing power parity terms (about 5.5 % of GDP) and is projected to rise further.

EU defence funding programmes

While defence remains a national competence, the EU plays a complementary role by reinforcing Member States’ efforts through both support for higher national defence spending and the use of EU budgetary resources. The EU has launched a range of programmes to encourage stronger collaboration:

• the European Defence Fund (EDF), a €8 billion fund (2021-2027) to boost the competitiveness of the European defence technological and industrial base (EDTIB) by incentivising joint research and development of defence equipment. The EDF received a €1.5 billion increase through the mid-term review of the multiannual financial framework (MFF); however, rather than being used for additional projects under the EDF, these funds were earmarked for the future European defence industry programme (EDIP). By March 2025, the European Commission had adopted five annual EDF work programmes, committing a total of €5.4 billion to collaborative defence research and capability development (around €6 billion including the precursor programmes EDIDP and PADR);
• the 2023 Act in Support of Ammunition Production (ASAP), with a budget of €500 million. Through ASAP, the EU offered funding to strengthen industrial production capacities for ground-to-ground and artillery ammunition, as well as missiles;
• the 2023 European Defence Industry Reinforcement through Common Procurement Act (EDIRPA), an EU instrument with a budget of €310 million aimed at incentivising cooperation in defence procurement between Member States to jointly coordinate and acquire the most urgent defence product needs. Five projects were selected, e.g. Mistral air defence systems;
• the proposed €1.5 billion European defence industry programme, which is still under negotiation and would run until the end of 2027. EDIP translates the objectives of the European defence industrial strategy into concrete action. It consolidates two existing EU initiatives – EDIRPA and ASAP – and introduces new rules designed to strengthen security of supply and promote sustained armaments cooperation;
• theEuropean Peace Facility (EPF), a fund worth over €17 billion financed outside the EU budget for a seven-year period (2021 to 2027) that aims to enhance the EU’s ability to prevent conflicts, build and preserve peace, and strengthen international security. Between 2022 and 2024, the EU mobilised €6.1 billion under the EPF to address Ukraine’s pressing military and defence needs. Together with the military support provided by EU Member States, overall EU support for the Ukrainian army is estimated at €63.2 billion;
• the ReArm Europe Plan/Readiness 2030. Member States aim to mobilise €800 billion under the plan to finance a massive ramp-up of defence spending through:
  • activation of the national escape clause under the stability and growth pact, allowing Member States to increase defence spending. The Commission estimates that a €650 billion fiscal space could be achieved if all EU Member States gradually increase their defence spending, reaching the maximum of 1.5 % of GDP by the end of the four-year national escape clause activation period. The Council has activated flexibility in EU fiscal rules at the request of only 15 Member States so far to increase defence spending; this is EU Member States’ defence spending;
  • the €150 billion Security Action for Europe (SAFE) loan instrument. The funds will be raised on capital markets and disbursed to interested Member States on demand, based on national plans. SAFE was adopted in May 2025; 19 Member States have so far requested a SAFE loan;
  • contributions from the European Investment Bank Group (EIB): the EIB, which has revised its lending policy and created a Security and Defence Office, plans to allocate 3.5 % of its 2025 financing (about €3.5 billion) to security and defence projects. Through the Defence Equity Facility, the European Investment Fund will invest €175 million between 2024 and 2027 to mobilise about €500 million for private funds targeting innovative dual-use defence technologies;
  • making existing EU instruments more flexible to allow greater defence investment: for instance, the European Parliament and the Council have adopted amendments to the EU cohesion policy to better address current and emerging strategic challenges, including security and defence;
• military mobility budget: the EU has a dedicated budget of €1.7 billion for military mobility projects under the Connecting Europe Facility for the 2021-2027 period. Three calls for proposals in the field of military mobility were carried out in 2021, 2022 and 2023. In total, 95 projects were selected (all funds in the current MFF have already been allocated);

Moreover, the Commission has proposed €131 billion for defence and space in the 2028-2034 MFF.

European Parliament position

Parliament has repeatedly urged higher defence spending, supporting both increased national budgets and greater funding for EU defence programmes alongside deeper cooperation among Member States.

Read the complete briefing on ‘EU defence funding‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

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Citizens are calling on the European Parliament to recognise and strengthen the role of women in building and sustaining peace. Many citizens have written to the President of the European Parliament on this subject since September 2025, asking her to actively support women’s participation in all peace and security decision-making processes.

We replied to citizens who took the time to write to the President (in English, French and Romanian):

Main elements of our reply English

The European Parliament and its President strongly support the active participation of women in peace processes.

At the European Parliament’s meeting on the occasion of International Women’s Day, President Metsola said that ‘peace is stronger when women have a voice’. She pointed out that despite their suffering and sacrifices, women are too often excluded from decision-making about war and peace. President Metsola said that Parliament had always championed the United Nations’ women, peace and security agenda. ‘Working with the United Nations (UN), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and partners worldwide, we continue to push for women’s full participation in shaping peace and security’, she added.

European Parliament position

In its resolution of July 2025 on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, the European Parliament calls for women’s full, equal and meaningful participation and leadership in decision-making roles, including in the areas of peace and security. Parliament also emphasises the vital role of women in peacebuilding, as outlined in the UN women, peace and security agenda.

The European Parliament’s May 2025 resolution underlines that the EU must ensure consistent financing for initiatives that promote gender-sensitive leadership, protect women’s rights, and fight sexual and gender‑based violence in conflict and post-conflict settings.

In its resolution of April 2025 on the common security and defence policy, the European Parliament states that including gender perspectives in external relations and implementing the women, peace and security agenda are long-standing priorities for the EU. Parliament highlights that it is important to strengthen women’s participation in conflict prevention and resolution, peace negotiations, peacebuilding and peacekeeping, humanitarian action and post-conflict reconstruction.

Further information

You may find the following information useful:

• The UN women, peace and security agenda has been integrated into the EU’s Gender Action Plan III (GAP III). The 2023 mid-term review concluded that the action plan has helped to increase the EU’s engagement with women, peace and security, but further dedicated resources are needed. GAP III has been extended until 2027. For more details, you can consult the EU diplomatic service’s website.
• In March 2025, Parliament’s in-house research service published an analysis of women’s participation in foreign policy.
• On 22 September 2025, Parliament held a hearing on an EU feminist foreign policy. You can watch the hearing on the Parliament website.
• On 9 October 2025, the European Parliament is expected to hold a debate on the European Commission’s 2025 roadmap for women’s rights and its declaration of principles for a gender-equal society. The declaration contains a principle (principle 7) on women’s political participation and equal representation. You can stream the debate or watch it later.

French

Le Parlement européen et sa Présidente soutiennent fermement la participation active des femmes aux processus de paix.

Au cours de la réunion du Parlement européen organisée à l’occasion de la Journée internationale des femmes, Roberta Metsola, Présidente du Parlement européen, a affirmé que «la paix est plus solide lorsque les femmes peuvent faire entendre leur voix». Elle a souligné que, malgré leurs souffrances et leurs sacrifices, les femmes sont trop souvent exclues des processus de décision en matière de guerre et de paix. Madame Metsola a déclaré que le Parlement avait toujours défendu le programme des Nations unies concernant les femmes, la paix et la sécurité. Elle a ajouté qu’ « en collaboration avec les Nations unies, l’Organisation du traité de l’Atlantique Nord (OTAN) et nos partenaires dans le monde entier, nous continuons d’œuvrer pour la pleine participation des femmes à l’instauration de la paix et de la sécurité ».

Position du Parlement européen

Dans sa résolution de juillet 2025 sur les objectifs de développement durable des Nations unies, le Parlement européen réclame la participation pleine, égale et significative des femmes et la possibilité pour elles d’accéder à des fonctions de direction et de prise de décision, y compris dans les aspects de la paix et de la sécurité. Le Parlement souligne également le rôle essentiel des femmes dans la consolidation de la paix, comme le souligne le programme des Nations unies concernant les femmes, la paix et la sécurité.

Dans sa résolution de mai 2025, le Parlement européen insiste sur le fait que l’Union doit garantir un financement cohérent des initiatives visant à promouvoir une gouvernance sensible au genre, à protéger les droits des femmes et à lutter contre les violences sexuelles et sexistes dans les situations de conflit et d’après-conflit.

Dans sa résolution d’avril 2025 sur la politique de sécurité et de défense commune, le Parlement européen affirme que l’intégration d’une perspective de genre dans les relations extérieures et la mise en œuvre du programme concernant les femmes, la paix et la sécurité constituent des priorités de longue date pour l’Union. Le Parlement précise qu’il importe de renforcer la participation des femmes aux activités de prévention et de résolution des conflits, aux négociations de paix, à la consolidation et au maintien de la paix, à l’action humanitaire et à la reconstruction au lendemain des conflits.

Pour en savoir plus

Les informations suivantes pourraient vous être utiles :

• Le programme des Nations unies concernant les femmes, la paix et la sécurité a été intégré dans le troisième plan d’action de l’Union sur l’égalité des sexes (GAP III). L’examen à mi-parcours, effectué en 2023, a conclu que le plan d’action avait contribué à renforcer l’engagement de l’Union en faveur des femmes, de la paix et de la sécurité, mais que d’autres ressources spécifiques étaient nécessaires. Le GAP III a été prolongé jusqu’en 2027. Pour en savoir plus, vous pouvez consulter le site internet du service diplomatique de l’Union européenne.
• En mars 2025, le service de recherche interne du Parlement a publié une analyse de la participation des femmes à la politique étrangère.
• Le 22 septembre 2025, le Parlement a organisé une audition sur une politique étrangère féministe de l’Union. Vous pouvez visionner l’audition sur le site internet du Parlement.
• Le 9 octobre 2025, le Parlement européen devrait organiser un débat sur la feuille de route 2025 de la Commission européenne pour les droits des femmes et sa déclaration de principes pour une société égalitaire du point de vue du genre. La déclaration prévoit un principe (principe nº 7) sur la participation politique et une représentation égale des femmes. Vous pouvez suivre le débat en direct ou le regarder plus tard.

Romanian

Parlamentul European și președinta acestuia sprijină ferm participarea activă a femeilor la procesele de pace.

La reuniunea Parlamentului European organizată cu ocazia Zilei Internaționale a Femeii, Roberta Metsola a declarat că „pacea este mai durabilă atunci când femeile își fac auzită vocea”. Președinta a subliniat că, în ciuda suferințelor prin care trec și a sacrificiilor pe care le fac, femeile sunt prea adesea excluse din procesul prin care se iau deciziile legate de război și pace. Roberta Metsola a declarat că Parlamentul a susținut întotdeauna Agenda ONU privind femeile, pacea și securitatea. „În cadrul colaborării noastre cu Națiunile Unite (ONU), cu Organizația Tratatului Atlanticului de Nord (NATO) și cu diverși parteneri din întreaga lume, milităm în continuare pentru participarea deplină a femeilor la construirea păcii și securității”, a adăugat.

Poziția Parlamentului European

În rezoluția sa din iulie 2025 referitoare la obiectivele de dezvoltare durabilă ale ONU, Parlamentul European a solicitat participarea deplină, egală și semnificativă a femeilor și posibilitatea ca ele să aibă acces la funcții decizionale și de conducere, inclusiv în toate aspectele referitoare la pace și securitate. Parlamentul a evidențiat și rolul vital al femeilor și fetelor în consolidarea păcii, astfel cum se subliniază în Agenda ONU privind femeile, pacea și securitatea.

Rezoluția Parlamentului European din mai 2025 subliniază că Uniunea trebuie să asigure finanțarea solidă a inițiativelor care promovează o conducere ce ia în considerare dimensiunea de gen, care protejează drepturile femeilor și care combat violența sexuală și bazată pe gen în situații de conflict și post-conflict.

În rezoluția sa din aprilie 2025 referitoare la politica de securitate și apărare comună, Parlamentul European a declarat că integrarea perspectivelor de gen în relațiile externe și punerea în aplicare a Agendei privind femeile, pacea și securitatea sunt priorități de lungă durată pentru Uniunea Europeană. Parlamentul a scos în evidență cât este de important să se îmbunătățească participarea femeilor la prevenirea și soluționarea conflictelor, la negocierile de pace, la consolidarea și menținerea păcii, la acțiunile umanitare și la acțiunile de reconstrucție după conflicte.

Informații suplimentare

Următoarele informații v-ar putea fi utile:

• Agenda ONU privind femeile, pacea și securitatea a fost integrată în Planul de acțiune pentru egalitatea de gen III (GAP III) al Uniunii Europene. Revizuirea la mijlocul perioadei din 2023 a concluzionat că planul de acțiune a contribuit la îmbunătățirea nivelului de implicare a Uniunii, dar trebuie dedicate mai multe resurse în domeniu. GAP III a fost prelungit până în 2027. Pentru a afla mai multe detalii, puteți consulta site-ul serviciului diplomatic al Uniunii Europene.
• În martie 2025, serviciul de cercetare al Parlamentului European a publicat o analiză privind participarea femeilor la elaborarea politicii externe.
• Pe 22 septembrie 2025, Parlamentul a organizat o audiere pe tema unei politici externe feministe a UE. Puteți viziona audierea pe site-ul Parlamentului European.
• Pe 9 octombrie 2025, Parlamentul European va susține o dezbatere pe marginea foii de parcurs privind drepturile femeilor, publicată de Comisia Europeană în 2025, și a Declarației Comisiei privind principiile pentru o societate bazată pe egalitatea de gen. Al șaptelea principiu cuprins în declarație se referă la participarea politică și reprezentarea egală a femeilor. Puteți viziona dezbaterea pe internet în direct sau ulterior.

Background

Citizens often send messages to the President and the European Parliament expressing their views and/or requesting action. The Citizens’ Enquiries Unit (AskEP) within the European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS) replies to these messages, which may sometimes be identical as part of wider public campaigns.

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