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

On the white paper on the future of European defence

B-10-2025-0149

on behalf of the ECR Group · Rapporteur: Reinis Pozņaks, Adam Bielan, Rihards Kols, Cristian Terheş, Alberico Gambino, Alexandr Vondra, Aurelijus Veryga, Jadwiga Wiśniewska, Joachim Stanisław Brudziński, Michał Dworczyk, Roberts Zīle, Sebastian Tynkkynen, Bogdan Rzońca, Carlo Fidanza, Ondřej Krutílek, Veronika Vrecionová, Geadis Geadi

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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 strengthening EU defence capabilities, increasing investment, and enhancing cooperation with NATO. It urges the EU and Member States to boost defence production, support the defence industry, and improve military mobility and infrastructure. It calls for protecting undersea cables, addressing hybrid threats, and enhancing security in the Black Sea, Arctic, and space. It encourages SME participation, research and development spending, and integration of Ukraine's defence industry.

Key points

  1. Reiterates support for strengthening European defence and deterrence, addressing hybrid and cyber threats, and promoting industrial cooperation.
  2. Emphasizes the need for a comprehensive approach to civilian and military preparedness, including AI, cybersecurity, and multi-domain strategies.
  3. Expects the white paper to differentiate short-term and long-term plans, address capability issues, and strengthen EU-NATO cooperation.
  4. Welcomes higher Member State investment in defence and stresses the need for coherent EU initiatives to support the defence industry.
  5. Calls for prompt adoption of the European defence industry programme (EDIP) to support the European defence industrial strategy.
  6. Encourages expansion of financial support for defence spending and civil defence infrastructure.
  7. Welcomes the proposal to exempt defence spending from EU public spending limits.
  8. Calls on the EIB to review its defence investment policy and enable financing for defence projects.
  9. Urges Member States to support a defence, security and resilience bank for low-interest loans.
  10. Calls for the white paper to ensure flexibility in a 360-degree approach to European security.
  11. Calls for EU-NATO collaboration on an integrated approach to the Black Sea and strengthening Eastern Partnership countries.
  12. Urges prioritization of counter-UAS and airborne electronic attack equipment in defence investments.

Who is affected

  • Member States: urged to increase defence spending, support defence firms, and enhance military mobility.
  • European Investment Bank: called on to review defence investment policy and enable financing.
  • SMEs in the defence sector: encouraged to participate in bidding through simplified processes.
  • Ukraine: its defence industry should be integrated into the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base.
  • NATO: cooperation with the EU is emphasized for collective defence and deterrence.

Figures and deadlines

  • 99 % of global data traffic relies on undersea fibre-optic cables.
  • 39 undersea cables ensure connectivity across the Mediterranean, North Sea and Baltic Sea.
  • Over 2 000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are part of the EDTIB.
  • 19 Member States sent a letter urging the EIB to take a stronger role in defence financing.