Europe’s military readiness plans at risk despite record defence spending

Europe’s ambition to be militarily ready by 2030 is “at risk” despite unprecedented political will and a surge in defence spending, according to a leaked draft of the European Commission’s work programme seen by Euronews. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT “Our external borders, critical infrastructure and the values underpinning our ‘European way’ are increasingly coming under threat,” the paper says, citing hybrid threats as an example. The eight-page document is expected to be endorsed and published on Wednesday by the Commission, setting out the EU executive’s priorities for 2027. Defence emerges as one of its biggest challenges. The warning echoes the European Defence Agency’s first Annual Defence Readiness Report, which highlighted persistent gaps in Europe’s military capabilities. As Europe invests billions in its military capabilities – €418 billion in 2025 – and confronts its most perilous security environment since the Cold War, the report warns that its ambitions to defend itself have yet to translate into deployable, sustainable and interoperable forces. The Commission’s work programme underscores the challenge. “We therefore need to do more to achieve these goals and to strengthen our resilience, preparedness and capacity to respond rapidly to crises, or worse,” it states. Europe’s defence challenges have also been exacerbated by US President Donald Trump’s decision to reduce the American military presence in Europe, which includes withdrawing strategic enablers, as part of his force posture review. The EU Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius has emphasised that the bloc must develop its own strategic enablers — critical infrastructure and capabilities that allow combat forces to deploy and operate efficiently — to fill the gap. Doing so, however, could cost €500 billion. Brussels has outlined several proposals to support the 27 EU member states’ efforts to rearm by 2030, a deadline that various intelligence services have identified as a potential point at which Russia could test NATO. “We will set up a new European Instrument for Strategic Enablers such as critical support assets and force multipliers ranging from strategic transport and air-to-air refuelling to space and cyber defence, in cooperation with member states,” the document states. The Commission will also pursue proposals put forward by its president, Ursula von der Leyen, as part of her agenda-setting State of the European Union speech in Strasbourg. “To address the evolving nature of the many threats to Europe’s security, the EU should set up a European Security Emergency Protocol, helping enable member states facing a direct and credible threat to benefit from a swift and common European response,” the document adds. “We will also explore the possibility of establishing a European Security Council with our closest partners.” The proposed European Security Emergency Protocol, which von der Leyen has described as the bloc’s equivalent of NATO’s Article 4, has not received unanimous support. The instrument was pitched in response to the growing hybrid threats testing Europe’s resolve, from an explosive-laden drone found near sensitive Ukrainian cargo at a German airport to commercial vessels sinking in the Black Sea following drone attacks. There has also been a spate of drone incursions along Europe’s eastern flank, prompting NATO to establish its multi-domain Eastern Sentry defence programme. Despite the political will and surging investment in counter-drone technology across the EU – which reportedly increased sixfold between 2024 and 2025 – only a third of EU counter-drone programmes are expected to deliver by 2030. Continuing to support Ukraine and its defence priorities amid another year of Russian aggression is also high on the Commission’s work programme agenda. “We will continue investing in and boosting our defence capabilities, notably in the field of air and missile defence, drone and counter-drone systems and ammunition,” the work programme states. Ukraine is set to channel up to €1 billion from its €90 billion Ukraine Support Loan into an EU programme designed to bring its defence industry closer to European partners, focusing on air and missile defence, drones, counter-drone systems and ammunition. Luca Bertuzzi contributed reporting.