Security and defence will remain high on the EU agenda in the coming term. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has shaken Europe into action, creating a new sense of urgency to regenerate European defence after decades of underinvestment.
The primary challenge for the Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE) during this mandate will be turning this urgency into sustained action to strengthen European security and defence capabilities.
Russia’s war has laid bare the need for Europe to take greater responsibility for its own defence. In the short term, we have provided Ukraine with critical military support, including through the European Peace Facility, and trained its armed forces via the EU Military Assistance Mission. However, more is needed, and Ukraine must be allowed to fully use the weapons we supply. Russia’s war economy presents a long-term challenge, and Europe must maintain its defence technological edge while regenerating its capabilities.
European security is also at risk beyond Ukraine. Threats include Russia’s proxies in the Sahel and the Central African Republic; threats at sea from Iran and its proxies including Yemen’s Houthi group; and China’s growing global security presence. These threats are not just military but technological, including cyberattacks, disinformation, and artificial intelligence. We must respond to this growing spectrum of threats with greater agility.
The EU has already started to address these challenges. The Versailles declaration and the EU’s Strategic Compass, both of which came shortly after Russia’s invasion in 2022, provide a first step in framing a policy to act quickly and decisively, protecting citizens, and investing in the necessary capabilities.
Partnership with NATO is central to ensuring that EU and NATO forces complement each other, particularly in areas like military mobility and enhanced forward presence. We must reinforce the 23 ongoing civilian and military common security and defence policy missions, including innovative ones like the EU partnership mission in Moldova and the new ASPIDES maritime security mission in the Red Sea. The European Peace Facility will continue to support Ukraine while developing new security guarantees.
Rebuilding Europe’s defence capabilities requires a revitalised European defence technological and industrial base. New initiatives, such as the European defence industry strategy and European defence industry programme, will boost joint defence procurement and increase ammunition production to meet Europe’s long-term needs. Supporting the reconstruction of Ukraine’s defence industry will also be vital to our broader security goals.
The European Parliament must play a central role, and SEDE should be upgraded to a fully-fledged security and defence committee to reflect the new situation. This would allow the parliament to use its full budgetary, legislative and oversight roles to ensure the EU delivers on these expectations, both for urgent support to Ukraine and the long-term regeneration of Europe’s defence capabilities.
This new legislative term will be pivotal for European security. Our collective actions will determine whether Europe is prepared to meet both current and future threats, and whether we can take meaningful responsibility for our own defence.