Funding weapons together (or not) : how to pay for European defence

Europe needs to take more responsibility for its own security. While EU Member States have made substantial new resources available for European defence, and European defence companies are thriving, more needs to be done. National defence spending will likely continue to rise but there is also growing political support for higher EU-level spending on defence. The Commission is calling for €100 billion to be allocated in the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). Options include increased national contributions, reprioritisation within the existing budget, joint EU borrowing or a dedicated Defence Bank. If more EU-level funding becomes available for defence, the bloc should prioritise dual-use strategic enablers that most individual Member States cannot afford on their own. These capabilities are essential for a more strategically responsible EU.