EU unveils white paper on defense amid US uncertainty

BRUSSELS (China Daily/ANN) -- The European Commission on Wednesday introduced a comprehensive plan to enhance the European Union’s (EU) defense capabilities, aiming to bolster military readiness and reduce reliance on non-EU allies amid uncertainty over future US support for NATO.

The flag of the European Union flies at the EU headquarters in Brussels.

“The security architecture that we relied on can no longer be taken for granted. Europe is ready to step up. We must invest in defense, strengthen our capabilities, and take a proactive approach to security,” Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement.
At the core of the plan is the White Paper for European Defence - Readiness 2030, and a defense package providing financial levers to EU member states for boosting investment in defense capabilities. These are part of the ReArm Europe Plan/Readiness 2030, the Commission said.
The white paper outlines key priorities, including addressing critical defense gaps identified by EU member states and strengthening Europe’s defense industry through increased joint procurement efforts.
It also emphasises the need to increase military support for Ukraine and expand the EU-wide defense market by streamlining regulations to improve efficiency and cooperation. Currently, EU nations operate a wide array of different weapons systems, limiting interoperability and efficiency.
As part of the ReArm Europe Plan/Readiness 2030, the Commission has set limits on fiscal flexibility for defense spending, capping financial deviations by EU member states at a maximum of 1.5 percent of GDP per year during the activation of the national escape clause, for a period of up to four years.
Earlier this month, von der Leyen introduced an 800-billion-euro (US$874.64 billion) plan to significantly boost defense spending across the bloc. The plan established a 150-billion-euro loan programme to help EU countries invest jointly in critical military assets, with the Commission committed to mobilising an additional 650 billion euros.
EU leaders had agreed to activate the national escape clause under the Stability and Growth Pact in a coordinated manner, which allows increased defense spending and provides immediate budgetary flexibility across member states.
The new blueprint was unveiled ahead of a summit of EU government leaders, where European defense remains a top agenda topic.

(Latest Update March 21, 2025)