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

On the white paper on the future of European defence

B-10-2025-0150

on behalf of the S&D Group · Rapporteur: Yannis Maniatis, Sven Mikser

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

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This resolution urges the EU to act immediately to protect citizens, deter enemies, and support allies, calling for a coherent strategy in the upcoming white paper on European defence. It demands increased military support for Ukraine, including lifting restrictions on Western weapons and seizing frozen Russian assets, and stresses the need to close capability gaps and reduce dependencies on non-European actors. The resolution calls for joint procurement, a single market for defence, and EU-level financing, including common debt, while rejecting cuts to cohesion funds and emphasizing social investments.

Key points

  1. Urges the EU to define a coherent, comprehensive and actionable strategy to protect citizens, deter enemies, and support allies, expecting the Commission to present it in the white paper.
  2. Calls for a renewed threat assessment, a plan to support Ukraine, a roadmap to close the capability gap, and a plan to finance these transformations.
  3. Condemns Russia's hybrid warfare and war of aggression, and calls for stepping up ability to defend, attribute and punish hybrid attacks.
  4. Urges immediate increase in military support to Ukraine, lifting restrictions on Western weapons, seizing frozen Russian assets, and joint procurement of ammunition and capabilities.
  5. Calls for integrating Ukraine's defence industry into the EDTIB and properly financing the EDIP's Ukraine Support Instrument.
  6. Calls for a complete overhaul of defence planning and procurement, with joint procurement by default and a single market for defence, including common certification and standardisation.
  7. Declares the EDTIB a strategic asset and calls for its mapping and monitoring, focusing EU support on EU-based companies to reduce dependencies.
  8. Calls for an EU drones package, a more ambitious European Defence Fund, and a strategy to address skilled worker shortages.
  9. Calls for enhanced intelligence sharing, a whole-of-society approach to resilience, and full implementation of the Strategic Compass, including a Rapid Deployment Capacity of at least 5,000 troops.
  10. Calls for EU-level financing, including common debt, and rejects increases at the expense of cohesion policy funds, demanding new own resources and taxes on windfall profits.

Who is affected

  • EU member states: urged to increase military support to Ukraine, lift restrictions on weapons use, and engage in joint procurement.
  • Ukraine: to receive increased military aid, training, and integration of its defence industry into the EU's.
  • Defence industry: EU funds to focus on EU-based companies, with safeguards on technology transfer.
  • Commission: tasked with presenting a defence programme, identifying capability gaps, and proposing regulations on certification and standardisation.

Figures and deadlines

  • EUR 500 billion over the next 10 years (2025-2034), including EUR 400 billion for member states and EUR 100 billion for Ukraine.
  • EUR 250 billion annually if the United States withdraws its military presence from Europe.
  • Russia aims to have a 1.5 million-strong military by 2026.
  • More than 60,000 Ukrainian troops trained by the EU Military Assistance Mission.
  • At least 5,000 troops for the Rapid Deployment Capacity.