European Union leaders outline a Unified Defence Industrial Strategy
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced on Wednesday that she will push in the coming weeks for joint military purchases as part of the EU’s first defense industrial strategy. The aim is to reduce Europe’s reliance on Russia, borrowing a page from how the bloc handled Covid-19 vaccines and natural gas procurements.
“The danger of war may not be imminent, but it cannot be dismissed either. Risks should not be inflated, yet preparations must be made,” von der Leyen told members of the European Parliament during a debate.
The German leader emphasized that increased security risks and instability, amplified by Russia’s war in Ukraine and the conflict in Gaza, require Europe to invest more and spend smarter. She noted that forthcoming proposals will be presented alongside the EU’s first defense industrial strategy.
According to her, the emphasis will be on prioritizing joint military bids, aligning with the broader European investment program in defense that will accompany it.
“Just as we did with vaccines or natural gas, this approach will help reduce fragmentation and boost interoperability,” she stated.
Von der Leyen explained that it will be necessary to “send a strong signal to the industry” and explore how to facilitate forward purchase agreements that provide companies with stable, long‑term order guarantees.
She described it as an acceleration of defense production similar to the ASAP framework, which focuses on joint ammunition purchases established out of the urgency to replenish stocks and continue support to Ukraine.
The President signaled that EU defense projects with shared interest will be identified to concentrate efforts and resources where they deliver the greatest impact and value.
“We will also focus on innovation to ensure Europe keeps an edge in new technologies appearing around the world in various conflicts,” she asserted.
Von der Leyen also announced the creation of a defense innovation office in Kyiv. The office will bring Ukraine closer to Europe and enable member states to benefit from Ukraine’s battlefield experience and its expertise in defense industrial innovation.
She acknowledged that advancing this European defense initiative will require a shift in mindset among institutions, industry, and investors alike.
In this context, she praised remarks by Nadia Calviño, President of the European Investment Bank, who expressed willingness to do more to support joint projects that boost Europe’s defense industry.
The commissioner urged member states to back the proposal, noting that Europe’s defense sector needs access to capital, and encouraged both public and private sectors to back these initiatives, especially small and medium-sized enterprises.
Von der Leyen also indicated it is time to begin discussing the use of extraordinary profits from frozen Russian assets under European sanctions to jointly purchase equipment for Ukraine.
She reiterated support for appointing a dedicated defense commissioner in the upcoming European Commission starting in November, should the current presidency be renewed.