EU countries endorsed a joint Council position on the €800B ReArm Europe plan, opening talks with Parliament to boost defence investment and industry by 2030.
EU member states have agreed on the Council’s position to advance the European Commission’s €800 billion ReArm Europe initiative, paving the way for negotiations with the European Parliament on boosting defence investments and strengthening Europe’s defence industry by 2030.
European Union member states reached a common position within the Council to encourage defence-related investments as part of the ReArm Europe initiative, designed to enhance the bloc’s military capabilities and accelerate funding towards the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB).
“With the Council’s agreed position, we want to open key EU programmes to more defence-related investments, enabling a more agile and coordinated effort to strengthen Europe’s Defence Industrial and Technological Base,” Denmark’s European Affairs Minister Marie Bjerre said in a statement. “It is a necessary step towards further boosting the EU’s defence readiness towards 2030.”
While member states broadly supported the European Commission’s proposal, the Council introduced an additional provision to align dual-use and defence research under Horizon Europe with other EU defence instruments.
The Council’s endorsement marks a key procedural step rather than full approval of the €800 billion programme. The EU presidency will now begin negotiations with the European Parliament, aiming for a final legislative agreement before the end of 2025.
The initiative complements the “defence readiness omnibus package” presented by the European Commission in June 2025, both forming part of broader efforts to reinforce Europe’s defence posture in line with European Council conclusions adopted in March 2025.
The ReArm Europe – also referred to as Readiness 2030 – plan seeks to mobilise up to €800 billion ($929 billion) in combined public and private defence spending over the next five years, with emphasis on strengthening Europe’s industrial autonomy and collective security capabilities.
