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

On the white paper on the future of European defence

B-10-2025-0146

on behalf of the PPE Group · Rapporteur: Rasa Juknevičienė, Nicolás Pascual de la Parte, Riho Terras, Michael Gahler, David McAllister, Sebastião Bugalho, Andrzej Halicki

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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 calls for concrete measures to increase defence capabilities, overcome fragmentation, enhance the EDTIB, find funding, deepen EU-NATO cooperation, and support Ukraine. It urges the European Council to convene immediately, update threat assessments, establish a defence line on the north-eastern border, and develop a Ukraine strategy with a GDP commitment for military aid. It calls for increased common procurement, rationalisation of the defence toolbox, revival of the Helsinki Headline Goal to create a 60,000-strong European corps, and a security of supply regime. It demands binding defence spending thresholds, welcomes the ReArm Europe Plan, and calls for exploring European defence bonds and revising the EIB's lending policy. It proposes an EU agency for emerging technologies, urges ending Article 346 TFEU exemptions, and calls for a permanent Council of EU defence ministers and enhanced parliamentary scrutiny.

Key points

  1. Calls for the white paper to address urgent capability increases, market fragmentation, EDTIB capacity, funding, EU-NATO cooperation, and support for Ukraine.
  2. Urges the Council President to convene the European Council to agree on implementing the European Defence Union and set priorities with timelines.
  3. Calls for updating the Strategic Compass threat analysis to a threat assessment and adapting measures.
  4. Stresses the need for a robust European pillar in NATO and shared responsibility.
  5. Calls for a defence line on the EU's north-eastern border with Russia and Belarus, coordinated via EU instruments.
  6. Urges a Ukraine strategy, integration of Ukrainian DTIB, and at least 0.25% of GDP for military aid to Ukraine.
  7. Calls for addressing capability gaps via EDIRPA, ASAP, and swift finalisation of EDIP with additional funding.
  8. Recommends reviving the Helsinki Headline Goal to create a European corps of 60,000 troops.
  9. Calls for binding defence spending of 3% of GDP by 2026 and 4% by 2028, with 0.5% for EU common defence.
  10. Welcomes the ReArm Europe Plan, the activation of the escape clause, and the EUR 150 billion loan instrument.
  11. Calls for exploring European defence bonds and revising the EIB's lending policy to allow defence financing.
  12. Urges ending Article 346 TFEU exemptions and creating a permanent Council of EU defence ministers.

Who is affected

  • EU Member States: required to increase defence spending to 3% of GDP by 2026 and 4% by 2028, and commit 0.25% of GDP to Ukraine.
  • European Investment Bank: urged to revise lending policy to finance defence-related projects.
  • European defence industry: benefits from increased common procurement and support for SMEs.
  • Ukraine: receives military aid and integration of its defence industry into the EDTIB.
  • NATO: EU seeks deeper cooperation and a stronger European pillar.

Figures and deadlines

  • EUR 1 770 billion: gap between 2% goal and actual defence spending by EU Member States over 2006-2022.
  • EUR 500 billion: funding need for European defence over the next decade, per the Draghi report.
  • 0.25% of GDP: minimum commitment for military aid to Ukraine.
  • 60 000 troops: target size for a European corps.
  • 3% of GDP by 2026 and 4% by 2028: binding defence expenditure thresholds.
  • 0.5% of GDP: commitment to EU common defence.
  • EUR 150 billion: loans to Member States for joint defence investment.