Future of European defence
commission.europa.eu
White paper on the future of European defence sets out investment needs to deliver EU defence capabilities to secure Europe’s peace. Find out more.

In an era of rapid geopolitical shifts, the European Union is stepping up to protect its citizens and strengthen its defence capabilities.

Preparedness is key - taking responsibility for our own security means investing in robust defence, safeguarding our people, and ensuring we have the resources to act when needed.

  • HotznplotznEnglish
    4·
    12 days ago

    EU defence in numbers

    TLDR:

    • Between 2021 and 2024, EU member states’ total defence expenditure rose by more than 30%. In 2024, it reached an estimated €326 billion - about 1.9% of EU GDP
    • Total spending on defence research and development, which includes any payments up to the point where expenditure on production of items starts, reached €11 billion in 2023 (6% more than in 2022) and €13 billion in 2024
    • Enhanced cooperation on defence investments is crucial. The European Union has allocated €16.4 billion (in current prices) to security- and defence-related activities under the multiannual financial framework (MFF) 2021-2027. The funds help support research and development, enhance military mobility, ramp up industrial production capacity and promote joint procurement.
    • In 2023, the European defence industry generated a turnover of €158.8 billion, a 16.9% increase from the previous year. This resulted in a substantial increase in employment in 2023, with the total number of jobs reaching 581 000. This was an 8.9% increase compared to the previous year.