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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION (2025/2565(RSP))

On the white paper on the future of European defence

B-10-2025-0145

on behalf of the PfE Group · Rapporteur: PierreRomain Thionnet, Matthieu Valet

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✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 4 Sept 2026

Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

This resolution on the white paper on the future of European defence stresses that defence policy remains a Member State prerogative, with unanimity in the Council, and calls for increased cooperation, European preference, and investment in capabilities. It emphasizes NATO's role, the need to fill capability gaps, and the importance of space, naval, AI, and industrial dimensions, while rejecting joint debt and new Commission competences.

Key points

  1. Stresses that defence policy is primarily a Member State prerogative and insists on unanimity in the Council for all CFSP/CSDP decisions.
  2. Calls for rearmament to deter hostile actions and maintain peace, without escalating tensions.
  3. Notes the US shift to the Asia-Pacific and insists Member States must not subcontract their security.
  4. Considers NATO a crucial partner, supports a European pillar within NATO, and calls for a more balanced distribution of command posts.
  5. Calls for overcoming fragmentation through cross-border procurement and involving defence SMEs.
  6. Rejects new Commission competences in defence, keeping decisions on requirements and exports with Member States.
  7. Calls for a European preference in defence regulations so EU funds benefit European companies.
  8. Calls on NATO-affiliated states to fill capability gaps in areas like space, missiles, and AI, and on non-neutral states to invest in military mobility infrastructure.
  9. Emphasizes the need for independent action capability and joint training, noting the Rapid Deployment Capacity's limits.
  10. Calls for considering all defence dimensions, including naval and space, with European preference in space procurement and abolition of geographical return.
  11. Calls for increased defence financing by financial institutions, but rejects joint debt like Eurobonds.
  12. Calls for accelerating AI development, clarifying the AI Act for dual-use systems, and protecting manufacturing industries, including revising the Green Deal.

Who is affected

  • Member States: retain sovereignty over defence policy, exports, and procurement; urged to increase cooperation and investment.
  • Defence industry, including SMEs: benefit from European preference and cooperation; face dependence on foreign components.
  • Financial institutions: called to simplify and increase defence financing; not to see it as reputational damage.
  • European Space Agency: called to abolish geographical return principle.
  • Telecommunications providers: subject to stricter regulations due to non-EU dominance.

Figures and deadlines

  • 5 000 troops: size of the Rapid Deployment Capacity, deemed insufficient for intense combat.
  • 80 % of EU data stored in the US and other non-EU countries.

Legal basis: Articles 24(1), 42, 43 and 45 of the Treaty on European Union