European Centre for Counterterrorism and Intelligence Studies, Germany & Netherlands – ECCI.
EU’s 2025 defence agenda
euractiv – Here are all the defence plans the Commission has in mind for 2025, according to a leaked programme first published by Euractiv.
This year will test how far the Europeans are ready to go in sharing their defence policy and investing in boosting production and joint procurement. It will also see the negotiations on the EU defence programme (EDIP) continue – and potentially to an end – setting the stage for a long-term industrial revamp.
But besides working on those major tasks, the Commission also plans to roll out other schemes to rehaul the ability of the continent to resist crises and plan for the future, including the revision of the research and development fund.
Q1-Q2
The revision of the European Defence Fund, the EU’s arm to co-finance research, and the development of military products, such as the mass production of kamikaze drones will come during first half of the year.
It comes after the Commission had first indicated a full change of focus in the funding, from bricks to large projects, and is much-expected by the industry, which has also given its opinion.
The EU’s much-anticipated White Paper on Defence, which aims to provide the EU with a list of capability gaps, financing tools, and an industrial output plan, is slated on 19 March.
A new Internal Security Strategy is also expected during the first quarter, following the end of the EU Security Union Strategy.
The Commission’s Preparedness Strategy to boost the bloc’s resilience and have sectors ready in case of catastrophe or war is expected during the first or second quarter of the year.
It will be based on the Niinistö report, published in October, calling for a “whole of society” approach to defence and security.
The programme also includes a “roadmap on ending Russian energy imports” to be published in the coming months.
Q3
A Space Act is also planned for the summer, after Defence and Space Commissioner Andrius Kubilius has mentioned the intention to create a Space Single Market to increase the EU’s independence in the critical sector, including for the military.
When it comes to other communications that are likely to relate to defence and security matters, a Black Sea Strategy is expected in June.
A Joint Communication regarding a new strategic EU-India Agenda is also planned for the summer.
Q4
The Commission will also review its 2020-2025 Firearms Trafficking Directive at the end of the year.
