The European Investment Bank (EIB) today agreed a series of measures to further boost investment in security and defence and critical raw materials. The EIB’s Board of Directors also approved a total of €8.9 billion of new financing for port and rail projects, education, energy and grid upgrades, water and business investment.
EU Commissioner Kubilius said the EU is opening new defence investment channels, with €600 billion in national spending still unregulated. EU loans will support procurement from European companies, including subsidiaries of third-country firms. For the first time, countries like the UK and Canada could also benefit if they sign defence partnerships with the EU.
European Council President António Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reflect on the outcomes of this week’s European Council meeting. Discover the key takeaways from their statements and the complete conclusions of the meeting.
On 20 March, the European Council adopted conclusions on competitiveness, European defence and security and migration.
The European Council welcomes the joint statement by Ukraine and the United States following their meeting in Saudi Arabia on 11 March 2025, including the proposals for a ceasefire agreement, humanitarian efforts, and the resumption of US intelligence sharing and security assistance. The European Council calls on Russia to show real political will to end the war. Explore more details.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that while Europe has many competitive, world-leading defence companies and innovative SMEs, the industrial base still faces structural weaknesses. She noted that it cannot yet produce defence systems and equipment at the scale and speed required by Member States and remains too fragmented, with national players mainly serving domestic markets. And she stressed the need to reverse this trend.
EU High Representative Kaja Kallas said she proposed an initiative focused on providing Ukraine with the support President Zelenskyy had specifically requested — ammunition worth 5 billion euros. She stressed the need for concrete action, not just words, to help Ukraine immediately, arguing that “the stronger Ukraine is on the battlefield, the stronger its position will be at the negotiating table”.
EU High Representative Kaja Kallas and EU Commission Andrius Kubilius explain the context of their White Paper on the Future of European Defence and the ReArm Europe Plan ‘Readiness 2030′, including legislation to strengthen the European defence industry while proposing the necessary flexibilities in expenditures.
“The international order is undergoing changes of the magnitude not seen since 1945. This is a pivotal moment for European security. It is a pivotal moment for action. Yes, that the needs of additional funding are massive. The proposals we have adopted today are also essential. But for all the important discussions needed on increasing defence spending, the value we add by working together is priceless” – EU High Representative
The EU Commission and the EU High Representative have unveiled a White Paper for European Defence – Readiness 2030, outlining a new strategic approach and identifying key investment needs. Complementing this, the Commission presented an ambitious defence package under the ReArm Europe Plan, designed to boost pan-European defence capabilities. Explore wihich new financial instruments the Commission proposes to strengthen Europe’s defence posture and ensure greater resilience by 2030.
In his address to the German Bundestag, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius underscored the historic significance of the decisions facing Germany, particularly regarding national security and future resilience. He described the country’s deteriorating infrastructure and emphasized the urgent need for substantial investment, not only in civil sectors but especially in defense, in light of the growing security challenges posed by Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
“Wir sind uns einig: Die Ukraine kann sich auf uns verlassen”, betonte Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz. Im Gespräch mit dem französischen Präsidenten Emmanuel Macron ging es außerdem um die Stärkung der Verteidigungsfähigkeit sowie der Wettbewerbsfähigkeit Europas.
DARPA’s Securing Artificial Intelligence for Battlefield Effective Robustness (SABER) aims to fill critical gaps in the Defense Department’s understanding of operational systems enabled by AI.
The Foreign Affairs Council exchanged views on the Russian aggression against Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, Syria, Iran and EU-US relations.
President Putin stated that Ukrainian troops encircled in Russia’s Kursk region must surrender to be spared, in response to U.S. President Trump’s humanitarian appeal. He accused them of committing crimes against civilians and labeled their actions as terrorism under Russian law. While he promised those who surrender would be treated with dignity, this would be according to Russian legal standards, which could still mean prosecution or even the death penalty.
Following his first G7 meeting, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized the strength of the joint statement issued by the group. He highlighted the importance of cooperation on shared concerns despite disagreements and noted that the statement sets the stage for upcoming discussions among G7 leaders. Rubio also addressed the engagement between President Putin and U.S. Special Envoy Witkoff, describing it as a positive step. He cautioned that while
On Thursday 13 and Friday 14 March 2025, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visited Washington DC to meet the President of the United States of America Donald J. Trump. The White House has release their friendly conversation before the bilateral meeting. Learn more about their excellent relationship.
The centrepiece of the agenda for this meeting will be competitiveness. The EU leaders will follow up on the Special European Council on 6 March, notably on recent developments related to Ukraine and the next steps on defence following the presentation of the White Paper on the Future of European Defence. Finally, UN Secretary-General António Guterres is expected to join the Summit.
In a resolution adopted on Wednesday, the EU Parliament calls on the EU to act urgently and ensure its own security. This will mean, MEPs say, strengthening relationships with like-minded partners, and strongly diminishing its reliance on non-EU countries. The resolution was adopted by 419 votes in favour,204 against and46 abstentions.
In a resolution adopted on Wednesday, Parliament says the EU is now Ukraine’s primary strategic ally and must help the country uphold its right to self-defence. MEPs welcomed the proposal for a 30 day ceasefire, reached on 11 March. They expect Russia to agree to it and follow it by ceasing all attacks on Ukrainian civilian population, infrastructure and territory.
García called for a proposal to confiscate the €200 billion in frozen Russian state assets to rebuild and arm Ukraine, while also allowing Ukraine the use of weapons to strike military targets on Russian territory.
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