Defence cooperation

Ukraine urgently needs investment in local production capacities and repair and maintenance facilities. The EU and Ukraine have a shared strategic interest in supporting the reform and development of Ukraine’s rapidly expanding defence industry.

The EU faces a crucial challenge in 2024: supplying Ukraine and rebuilding its arsenals. While tight budgets impede immediate industry restructuring, the EU's pivotal move could be championing dual-use strategic enablers.

Against the backdrop of the biggest rearmament effort in Europe since the 1950s, this Brief examines whether the EU defence industry is as fragmented as is commonly believed. It argues that new EU initiatives should focus on strengthening long-term demand for critical strategic...

After many years of underinvestment in defence, EU Member States are rearming. This Brief reviews the record of European armaments collaboration and sets out under what conditions common defence acquisition and joint arms procurement make most sense (and when it does not).

This Brief analyses EU defence cooperation with key partners and makes suggestions for how these strategic partnerships might be further tailored and enhanced, including the idea of ‘Institutional nesting’ as a way to reconcile overlapping cooperation formats.