European Union lawmakers have voted to strengthen defence industry cooperation with Ukraine, approving a €1.5-billion program aimed at closer industrial integration at a time when U.S. peace efforts remain uncertain and Russia’s unconventional operations continue to unsettle the bloc.
The European Parliament passed the measure by a vote of 457–148, with 33 abstentions. Of the total funding, €300 million will be allocated to the Ukraine Support Instrument. Supporters say the initiative is designed to enhance both European security and Ukraine’s defense industrial capacity.
Raphaël Glucksmann, a French member of the Parliament’s S&D group, said the plan would help build “a more resilient and sovereign Europe” by partnering with Ukraine to develop advanced defence manufacturing. “This is key to ensuring we can protect our democracies effectively and autonomously,” he said.
EU Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius told lawmakers that Ukraine’s industry “needs us — but we need Ukraine’s defence innovations even more.” He said Ukraine’s inclusion in the EU Defence Investment Program will enable joint procurement and development of military equipment.
EU defence spending is projected to reach about €392 billion this year — nearly double the level before Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022 — and the Commission estimates total defence expenditure across the bloc could reach €3.4 trillion over the next decade. To support this shift, Brussels plans to propose increasing long-term funding for defence and space to €131 billion.
The policy reflects a broader strategic adjustment within the EU, which was founded as a peace-focused economic project but has increasingly expanded its defence posture. The move also comes as the Trump administration signals a stronger emphasis on U.S. domestic and Indo-Pacific priorities, urging Europe to assume greater responsibility for its own security and support for Ukraine.
As part of the new strategy, member states are encouraged to prioritize purchasing equipment from European suppliers, using EU mechanisms to reduce costs and accelerate deliveries. Imports from outside the bloc should occur only when justified by price, performance, or supply conditions.
Kubilius said European firms will be eligible for tax incentives and other supports to develop major multinational defence projects — such as drone-defence initiatives or space-based monitoring systems — that individual member states could not undertake alone.
