How To Finance The Future Of EU Defence?

Conference Details

Date: 21 May 2025

Time: 17:00

Duration: 1 hour and 10 minutes

Location: Brussels, Belgium

Cost: Free, registration needed

Organiser: CEPS - Centre for European Policy Studies

Conference Website

Conference Description

Russia’s war on Ukraine and rising global instability have fundamentally reshaped Europe’s security landscape. In response, the EU has launched the European Defence Industrial Strategy (EDIS) to shift from crisis-driven actions to long-term defence readiness. However, turning this ambition into reality will require bold investment and innovative financial strategies.

To guide this transformation, the White Paper on European Defence – Readiness 2030 sets out a strategy to strengthen the EU’s defence industry, enhance operational readiness, and reinforce security. This White Paper puts forward the ReArm Europe Plan, which introduces several financial instruments to scale up investment in defence. These include the Security and Action for Europe (SAFE) instrument, to leverage on new common debt (up to 150 billion EUR); the coordinated activation of the national escape clause to mobilise up to 650 billion EUR in additional defence spending; as well as more effective use of existing EU funding resources and the mobilisation of private capital, to promote further investment in the sector.

Against this background, the policy workshop will discuss how these initiatives can help bridge the estimated funding gap of 500 to 800 billion EUR until 2030. Speakers from public institutions, industry and think tanks will explore key questions around financing Europe’s defence transformation, including: