EU approves first five joint defence projects to strengthen European capabilities

Yesterday 16:52

By: Azzat Manal

EU approves first five joint defence projects to strengthen European capabilities

EU member states have approved the first five European Defence Projects of Common Interest, paving the way for joint initiatives aimed at strengthening the bloc’s defence capabilities and industrial capacity.

The projects were formally approved by the Council of the European Union on Monday, September 28, under the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP). The initiative is designed to encourage countries to work together on major military and industrial projects that would be difficult for individual states to develop independently because of their scale or complexity.

The five projects cover areas that the EU has identified as critical to its defence readiness. They include drones and counter-drone systems, maritime and seabed defence, space capabilities, integrated air and missile defence, and the protection of the bloc’s eastern flank.

One of the projects, known as DECODER, focuses on expanding European capacity to develop and deploy drones while improving systems designed to counter hostile unmanned aircraft. Another initiative will establish an integrated approach to detecting and responding to threats at sea and on the seabed.

The space project is intended to strengthen capabilities including early-warning systems for missile launches, satellite communications, intelligence and surveillance, as well as positioning and timing services. It also includes work on navigation-related defence capabilities and the rapid deployment of replacement satellites when necessary.

A separate project will focus on integrated air and missile defence, including early-warning and coordinated command capabilities. The fifth initiative, known as Eastern Flank Watch, will strengthen security across land, air, maritime and cyber domains along the EU’s eastern side.

The projects will now become eligible for EU financial support through EDIP. The programme has a total budget of €1.5 billion for 2026–2027, with €325 million specifically allocated to launching and implementing European Defence Projects of Common Interest.

The European Commission proposed the five projects in July after receiving nine proposals following a call for expressions of interest launched earlier in the year. The final selection was made with input from the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the European Defence Agency.

The initiative also allows participation by Norway and Ukraine, reflecting the EU’s broader effort to develop cooperation with partners in key defence areas. The projects are intended to support European industrial capacity while reducing fragmentation and improving interoperability between participating countries.

The approval comes as EU defence ministers continue discussions on strengthening European military capabilities, including air defence, industrial cooperation and support for Ukraine. The Council has increasingly emphasized joint approaches to defence production and procurement as part of efforts to improve Europe’s readiness.

The launch of the five projects marks a new stage in the EU’s defence-industrial policy, shifting from broad strategic plans toward concrete multinational programmes. Their implementation will now depend on cooperation among participating countries and the development of the projects through the EU funding framework.