On 21 March 2022, Foreign Affairs and Defence Ministers of the EU adopted the Strategic Compass, after 2 years of negotiations. Meant to be a kind of White Paper on Defence for the EU, it now remains to be seen to what extent the political commitments will actually be kept. However, what is certain is that the most concrete proposals are a new boon for the arms industry in the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
NBB 2026-5: ‘European preference in EU rearmament subsidies, but for how long?’
power struggles and differing views on the concept of European preference suggest that negotiations on the next EU budgetary cycle and rearmament programmes will be tense… Read our latest Newsletter to know more: ENAAT 2026-5, 28/09/2026 SUMMARY: EU support for the arms industry On European militarisation