NBB 2025-3: Future Competitiveness fund will expand EU militarisation

The latest issue of the ENAAT newsletter ‘News from the Brussels’ Bubble’ is now available online here

Summary: 

EU funding for the arms industry

  • Defence Fund: less transparency with first classified project, future Competitiveness Fund
  • SAFE Regulation adopted and entered into force despite controversial legal basis
  • EU Cohesion Fund: diverting money for large arms dealers and military mobility
  • Consultation on mini-omnibus for defence, simplification package expected 17 June
  • EDIP: Council negotiations to resume this week, agreement under Danish presidency?
  • EIB: €40 million package for defence and cooperation with national counterparts
  • EU start-up strategy with focus on military and dual-use tech

Other aspects of EU militarisation

  • EP priorities for post-2027 EU budget: competitiveness, rearmament, deregulation
  • EU MoDs gatherings: few decisions taken, next steps at NATO and European Summits
  • EU-UK deal: much ado for nothing or first step towards arms industry cooperation?
  • PESCO: Switzerland to be invited to participate in ‘Cyber Ranges Federations’ project
  • Military power ‘precondition’ for EU economic hegemony according to ECB chair

EU Peace Facility and related news

  • EU RDC operational but lacking political agreement on “how, why and when”?
  • Ukraine: one billion for military aid under the Danish initiative
  • Prospects for a military assistance measure for Togo in West Africa
  • EEAS cut staff in delegations: less human resources for non-violent policies

more news

Workshop ‘The arms industry inefficiency to provide human security’

The Delàs Centre for Peace Studies and ENAAT invite you to a workshop on “The arms industry inefficiency to provide human security”, hosted by MEP Marc Botenga (The Left, Belgium), to discuss the role of the arms industry in providing human security and economic development.  The workshop will take place in the European Parliament (room SPAAK 1C51) on Tuesday 1st December, from 10 am to 12:00pm CET (in-person only) > Register here before Tuesday 24/11 More information A recent report from the Centre Delàs, “Europe’s arms build-up and the inefficiency of the war industry”, challenges the prevailing narrative that

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NBB 2026-4: ‘the never ending story of privileges for arms dealers’

This month from Brussels’ arms bubble funding for the military seems like a never-ending story, deregulation is progressing slowly but surely, and institutional rivalries persist… Read our latest ENAAT Newsletter here: ENAAT NBB 2026-4, 10/07/2026 SUMMARY: News from ENAAT & members Factsheet 1 | EU Military Spending until 2027, From ‘Peace Project’ to Arms Investor Factsheet 2 | Military and related spending in the MFF 2028–34 proposal EU support for the arms industry The never ending funding for the arms industry Deregulation for the arms industry News Briefs Other aspects of european militarization New security strategy postponed to

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