News from the Brussels’ Bubble #2023-03

The latest issue of the EU project newsletter summarises the main news about EU funding for the arms industry and other aspects of EU militarisation over the last month. Enjoy the reading!

SUMMARY of ENAAT NBB 2023-03_05.05.23

EU funding for the arms industry
– EU Auditors conclude that EU lacks long-term strategy on defence spending
– EDIRPA: EP now pushes for fast-track negotiations
– Continuation and end of Breton’s tour of the arms industry
– EC proposal for the Act in Support of Ammunition Production (ASAP)

Other aspects of EU militarisation
– EDA-US agreement for a cooperation framework is signed
– Military mobility: 2nd call for proposals almost exhausts 7-years budget

EU Peace Facility & related news
– Strategic Compass: MEPs support establishment of EU rapid reaction force, under certain conditions
– Ammunitions to Ukraine: Member States operationalise track one and two of the 20 March plan
– €70 million to support Moldova and Georgia armed forces to participate in EU missions

Interesting links

If you wish to receive this Newsletter in your mailbox, please write to info[at]enaat.org

more news

OSDE 2026

2 June 2026

Who profits from EU subsidies for the arms industry? Find out below which countries and companies benefit the most from the EU Defence Fund (EDF) and the Ammunition fund (ASAP), and where they export. More information and detailed data are available in the public platform Open Security Data Europe Companies European Defence Fund (EDF) After the first three years of the EDF, about a thousand different entities (companies, research institutes, universities, government agencies and a few CSOs) have received funding. It is clear that a large portion of the money goes to a small set of large arms companies.

Read more >

09/06 at 6pm: “Breaking the consensus on EU funding for rearmamament” online conference

21 May 2026

ENAAT, GDAMS & StopReArmEurope invite you to an Interactive Online Conference***A militarised garden: Breaking the consensus on EU funding for rearmament * June 9 2026 at 18:00 CEST The session will begin from a practical observation: Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) who challenge the current policy direction -particularly the rapid growth in certain spending priorities- represent a small minority, which limits their influence. Against this backdrop, the discussion will move beyond simple opposition and instead focus on more constructive and strategic exchange, structures around two main pillars:1) Understanding the MEPs’ perspective:Why do many MEPs feel that there

Read more >

Civil society calls on policymakers to prevent the weakening of arms exports control

8 May 2026

Today, +25 civil society organisations urge decision makers to prevent arms export control systems from being weakened under the pretext of ‘simplification’ and ‘efficiency’. The negotiations on the EU omnibus package relating to defence are well advanced and about to conclude, including on the proposals modifying the Transfer directive regulating intra-EU arms exports. Weapons and military technology cannot be sold like toys or cans of beans, and EU governments are the ones responsible for ensuring compliance with European and international law, in particular the EU Common position on arms exports, the Arms Trade Treaty and the Convention on

Read more >