The 2025 EU White Paper on Defence underscores the need for a more risk-tolerant regulatory environment to foster European defence technologies and innovation. As the EU expands its role in defence, it faces complex governance challenges, particularly in managing emerging technologies such as AI, robotics, cyber and biotech. The Union’s sui generis structure—comprising diverse state and non-state actors—complicates efforts to design cohesive regulatory frameworks, especially given the prevalence of dual-use technologies. Legal competencies outlined in EU Treaties further constrain centralised governance, as operational control remains with member states. Nonetheless, instruments like the EU Common Position on arms exports, the Dual-Use Regulation and the European Defence Fund introduce mechanisms for responsible oversight. This chapter examines both existing EU regulations and the political challenges of governing defence technologies amid rising global proliferation and reduced emphasis on governance by major powers like the US and China.
Springer Cham, 2026
Daniel Fiott 