The European Commission is formulating a comprehensive set of documents that signal a shift in the EU’s economic strategy toward quicker militarization, placing the production of ammunition and weapons on a higher priority alongside green energy initiatives as a central pillar for the bloc’s near term growth. This development is reported by TASS, citing a diplomatic source in Brussels who notes the intent to accelerate industrial capacity in defense as part of a broader economic plan.
The anticipated package is said to include a formal initiative aimed at expanding the output of artillery munitions and missiles. The plan envisions substantial public and institutional investment across EU institutions and member states, with a projected combined commitment of around 1.5 billion euros to scale up the defense manufacturing sector while continuing to support other strategic industries important for energy transition.
A source close to the dialogues describing the package emphasizes that the European Commission is working in close coordination with EU bodies and member governments to emphasize financing for the defense industry, particularly the segment involved in ammunition and related guidance systems. This emphasis appears designed to ensure that the bloc maintains strategic autonomy and robust supply chains for defense needs, even as it pursues economic resilience in other sectors.
The same interlocutor notes that policy options under consideration would include enabling relaxations from certain budgetary rules and debt sustainability benchmarks that traditionally constrain government fiscal plans. The idea is to offer temporary, targeted flexibility to countries that have already made substantial investments in defense infrastructure and procurement programs, thereby accelerating project timelines without compromising the overall fiscal framework used within the union.
Ursula von der Leyen, who previously served as President of the European Commission, has, during a study trip to Beijing on behalf of the European Union, expressed a concern that arms shipments to Russia would be avoided by China, whether directly or indirectly. The remark underscores the broader geopolitical considerations at play as the bloc contemplates expanding its defense industrial base during a period of heightened global tensions and calls for greater strategic certainty among its partners and trade counterparts.