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DRAFT REPORT (2025/2119(INI))

On EU strategic defence and security partnerships

SEDE-PR-778180

Committee on Security and Defence · Rapporteur: Michał Szczerba

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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 draft report on EU strategic defence and security partnerships stresses their necessity, prioritises NATO and key partners, and calls for new partnerships and deeper cooperation in defence industry, maritime security, cyber defence, and support for Ukraine.

Committee position. The rapporteur proposes a resolution that stresses the necessity of security and defence partnerships, prioritises NATO and key partners, and calls for new partnerships and deeper cooperation in various areas.

Key points

  1. Underlines that security and defence partnerships are a necessity, not an option, for the EU to become more sovereign and responsible for its own defence.
  2. Highlights Russia's war against Ukraine as a wake-up call and notes threats from strategic competitors, including China and spillover from conflicts in the Middle East and Africa.
  3. Stresses the priority of EU-NATO cooperation, including intelligence sharing and cooperation on critical infrastructure, military mobility, and resilience.
  4. Welcomes existing SDPs with eight countries and calls for deepening partnerships with Norway, the UK, and Canada, and exploring a formalised SDP with the United States.
  5. Affirms Ukraine as a strategic priority partner, insists on continued support and legally-backed security guarantees, and encourages use of frozen Russian assets.
  6. Calls for rapid conclusion of SDP negotiations with Australia and exploration of partnerships with Switzerland, Western Balkan candidate countries, Türkiye, India, and key African and Middle Eastern countries.
  7. Stresses the importance of EU-UN and EU-AU partnerships and calls for deeper cooperation with regional organisations like the OSCE, ASEAN, and the League of Arab States.
  8. Deplores Hungary's obstruction of the European Peace Facility and urges Member States to pressure Hungary to end its blockade.
  9. Welcomes privileged access to SAFE for SDP countries and underlines the importance of Ukraine's participation in SAFE.
  10. Calls for more joint maritime security exercises, surveillance of critical maritime infrastructure, and cooperation on cyber threats and foreign information manipulation.
  11. Emphasises the role of SDPs in counterterrorism, space security, and building societal and democratic resilience.
  12. Believes parliamentary diplomacy and the Schuman Forum are key platforms for dialogue and encourages closer ties with partner societies.

Who is affected

  • EU member states and the European External Action Service are called on to explore new security and defence partnerships.
  • Hungary is urged to end its blockade of the European Peace Facility.
  • Countries with SDPs, including the UK and Canada, may gain privileged access to SAFE.

Figures and deadlines

  • Eight countries have security and defence partnerships with the EU.

Legal basis: Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and Title V of the Treaty on European Union, particularly provisions on the common security and defence policy.