ReArm Europe: EU Pushes for Increased Defense Funding by 2030
The EU Council has approved a position on stimulating investment in the defense sector through key EU programs to strengthen Europe's military capabilities and industrial base as part of the ReArm Europe initiative.
The Gaze reports it, referring to a press release from the European Council of the European Union.
This plan aims to increase defense spending and strengthen Europe's military capabilities, as well as to strengthen the industrial and technological base of defense.
According to Marie Bjerre, Denmark's Minister for European Affairs, the Council's agreed position allows key EU programs to be opened up to more investment, while ensuring efforts to enhance defense preparedness.
“With the Council’s agreed position, we want to open key EU programmes to more defence-related investments, and we are enabling a more agile and coordinated effort to strengthen Europe’s Defence Industrial and Technological Base. It is a necessary step towards further boosting the EU’s defence readiness towards 2030,” she said.
The Council's position provides for changes to five key EU programs that support defense and technology investments: the Digital Europe Programme, Horizon Europe, the European Defense Fund, the Connecting Europe Facility, and the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP).
Key amendments include adapting eligibility rules for dual-use and defense projects under Horizon Europe, ensuring consistency with other EU instruments in the defense industry sector.
The next step after the Council's mandate is approved will be negotiations with the European Parliament to reach a final agreement by the end of the year.
The ReArm Europe initiative complements the comprehensive defense readiness package presented by the Commission in June 2025, and together they aim to stimulate investment in the defense sector and improve Europe's defense readiness, as requested by the European Council in March 2025.
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