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The European Union (EU) has unveiled its first Defense White Paper to strengthen its security and bolster the region’s defense industry.
The 23-page “European Defense Readiness 2030” document released March 19 warns of growing threats to Europe “in its region and beyond” and calls for boosting the region’s military muscle. “The moment has come for Europe to re-arm,” it says.
It also urges “a massive ramp-up of European defense industrial production capacity.”
The white paper identifies seven priority areas for Europe to improve its defense and close capability gaps: air and missile defense; drone and counter-drone systems; artificial intelligence (AI), electronic warfare and cyber; ammunition and missiles; artillery systems; military mobility; and strategic enablers such as airlift, air-to-air refueling and space.
“We must buy more European, because that means strengthening the European defense technological and industrial base. That means stimulating innovation. And that means creating an EU-wide market for defense equipment,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said March 19.
The commission said it would start engagement with defense companies to find areas to reduce regulatory burdens and address industry challenges, including swifter approvals for defense industrial projects, removing obstacles to private capital investing in defense and mutual recognition of certifications. That plan should be ready by June 2025, it said.
The white paper also underscores Europe’s support for Ukraine, including through an air defense initiative with faster production of interceptors and providing Kyiv enhanced access to EU space assets, from positioning, navigation and timing to Earth observation. “The EU should also fund Ukrainian access to services that can be provided by EU-based commercial providers,” the paper states. The move comes after the U.S. recently temporarily suspended Ukraine’s access to some government-furnished commercial satellite imagery.
“This is not just about military strength. It is about our readiness, strategic autonomy and the future of Europe as a global player,” said Andrius Kubilius, Europe’s first commissioner for defense and space, as he revealed the White Paper.
The EU said it would this year work on a European Armament Technological Roadmap initially focused on AI and quantum technologies.
The “Readiness 2030” plan comes on top of funding levers the European Union is pulling to put as much as €800 billion ($870 billion) into defense across the region, including around €150 billion in loans to buy a range of equipment, such as air and missile defense, space and electronic warfare systems. Although the EU said it is open to including some other countries in common procurements, they cannot tap the loans.
Implementation is critical to deter Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kubilius said.
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