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The development of European Defence Projects of Common Interest (EDPCIs) represents a decisive step towards strengthening the EU’s crisis response, economic competitiveness and strategic autonomy. EDPCIs aim to overcome fragmented national defence efforts by promoting joint development, production and procurement of key military capabilities, enhancing the EU’s governance structure for defence investment. While earlier frameworks like the EDF, PESCO and CARD have achieved limited integration, EDPCIs ...
EU trade in dual-use items with conflict-affected regions
This study examines the extent to which the EU’s legal framework and Member States’ practices on dual-use export controls align with their respective legal obligations, particularly as they relate to conflict-affected regions. There is a lack of high-quality data on EU trade in dual-use goods. While the EU’s annual report has improved in recent years, it continues to lack granularity regarding what is actually exported. Some Member States produce annual reports, including a few that offer a good ...
Union Civil Protection Mechanism: 2028 2034 programming period
Recent climate related disasters, health crises and security threats have highlighted the need to build a resilient Union, capable of anticipating and effectively managing future disasters and crises based on an all hazards approach. More comprehensive and integrated crisis management, requiring close and efficient cooperation between the EU and Member States, is essential for addressing complex and long lasting crises impacting several sectors simultaneously. To this end, and as part of the proposed ...
European defence readiness roadmap
The defence readiness roadmap 2030 translates the ambition of the 2025 white paper for European defence into concrete objectives intended to ensure that EU Member States can deter and respond to high-intensity threats by the end of the decade. It identifies persistent fragmentation, limited joint procurement and dependence on non-EU suppliers as key structural weaknesses, despite rising defence spending. Capability coalitions are designed to coordinate national investment in priority areas, and European ...
European defence industry programme (EDIP)
The first-ever European defence industrial strategy (EDIS) was adopted on 5 March 2024. As an immediate and central step to deliver the strategy, the Commission put forward a proposal for a European defence industry programme (EDIP) regulation, also on 5 March 2024. The EDIP seeks to achieve defence industrial readiness by bridging the gap between short-term emergency measures and a more structural, long-term approach. On 16 October 2025, the Council Presidency and European Parliament negotiators ...
Drones and new systems of warfare: Adapting the EU to today's security challenges
A European Parliament own-initiative report on drones and new systems of warfare aims to inform the EU's response to emerging security threats. The report is scheduled for a vote in plenary in January.
Implementation of the common foreign and security policy – Annual report 2025
During the January plenary session, the European Parliament will vote on its 2025 annual report on implementation of the common foreign and security policy (CFSP).
Implementation of the common security and defence policy – Annual report 2025
During the January plenary session, the European Parliament will vote on its 2025 annual report on implementation of the common security and defence policy (CSDP). This is the first annual implementation report adopted by the fully fledged Committee on Security and Defence (SEDE).
Defence industry
The EU defence industry plays a vital role in ensuring the Union’s security and strategic autonomy. It also contributes to competitiveness and growth. However, the European defence sector has long suffered from structural weaknesses, preventing it from producing defence equipment at the necessary pace. In view of the increasing geopolitical tensions, the EU has put defence at the top of its agenda and aims to strengthen the defence industry to make it more responsive, innovative, competitive and ...
Ten issues to watch in 2026
This is the tenth edition of an annual EPRS paper aimed at identifying and framing many of the key issues and policy areas that will feature prominently in public debate and on the political agenda of the European Union over the coming year. The topics analysed encompass, the next long term EU budget, Ukraine's integration into the EU, defence, EU-China relations, the impact of artificial intelligence on the web, the potential of startup companies, irregular migration, climate policy, action for ...