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All in? The revival of the Spanish and European defence industry
Meeting at an informal leaders’ retreat in Brussels in early February 2025, EU leaders were keen to establish the political guidelines for a host of defence policy developments in 2025. In the context of the continuing war against Ukraine, and the uncertainties posed by the new US Administration, Europeans are set to bolster their cooperation in an EU context as well as take up a greater role in NATO. It is to be hoped that more cooperation between EU member states will help respond to the pressure to spend more on defence, as well as reverse the fragmentation of the European defence market. For a country such as Spain there are critical questions to consider, including its level of defence spending, how to participate in future EU defence procurement projects and how to align EU-NATO targets as much as possible. Spainis well placed to benefit from a future European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP), but ensuring that it can capitalise on and influence Europe’s revival of the defence industry requires Spain to do its homework.
Real Instituto Elcano – February 2025
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Unity is Not Enough: How will Europe Navigate the Trumpian Era of Geopolitical Competition?
The second Trump presidency will in many ways be unique, but Europeans will likely still pursue the short-term tactics of keeping a low profile or enhancing bilateralism with the United States (US). Europeans may try to play President Trump at his own game through transactionalism, or to engage with China and others to hedge against Washington, but there are grave risks in pursuing these lines. The European Union (EU) needs to be bold in planning for life after President Trump. This calls for far greater defence spending, supporting Ukraine and lowering energy and technology dependencies.
CSDS Policy Brief, 2/2025
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Integrated Arsenals? Mapping Defence Industrial Relations Between Europe and Ukraine
Since Russia’s war on Ukraine, defence industrial cooperation between the European Union and Ukraine has been put high on the agenda. In addition to the armament deliveries being made to Kyiv, there is now the ambition to integrate Ukraine within the EU and the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base. To this end, governments and firms have engaged in interesting forms of industrial cooperation such as joint ventures and co-production. The task of this paper is to assess the extent and nature of this defence industrial cooperation. It conducts a mapping exercise of 21 EU member states to size up the extent of cooperation, and to analyse the political and industrial objectives of this cooperation. The paper assesses the types of technology being developed, but it also highlights some of the political and industrial challenges that hinder deeper cooperation.
IRIS Institute / ARES Group
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Manufacturing Defence: Europe, the Republic of Korea and Defence Industrial Cooperation
South Korea has emerged as a major supplier to European militaries, and this has helped with Europe’s imminent need for military rejuvenation. Given the quality of South Korean defence equipment and supplies, Seoul is viewed with credibility in the defence sector and this bodes well for future cooperation. There remain challenges to closer and long-term cooperation between Europe and South Korea, including the adjustment of European manufacturers and technology controls.
By Yang Uk and Daniel Fiott
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Wait and See? The Dynamics of Europe’s Evolving Approach to the Sahel
13/2024
Having faced a series of coup d’états in recent years, the Sahel region is marked by instability and it raises fundamental security questions for Europe. In a context where European governments are responding to Russia’s war on Ukraine, and where crisis management is viewed with less salience, the Sahel remains a dynamic region that requires continued European strategic and political attention. Not only does the Sahel region continue to produce political dynamics and effects that directly implicate European security interests, but it is a region that is increasingly entangled with global strategic competition. This CSDS In-Depth Paper outlines some of the core security dynamics at play in the Sahel and how they impact Europe. It provides four brief scenarios, followed by policy recommendations, to assist with thinking about possible courses of action in the Sahel in the coming years.
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L’Union européenne de la défense: Commentaire article par article
L’Union européenne de la défense, qui se construit depuis quelques années dans un contexte sécuritaire préoccupant, dépend du droit de l’Union, c’est-à dire tant des règles fixées par les États membres dans les traités que de celles adoptées par les institutions européennes. En effet, l’Union européenne de la défense ne se limite plus à la très intergouvernementale politique de sécurité et de défense commune (PSDC). Elle l’englobe et la dépasse, pour s’étendre au domaine dit « communautaire » ou « supranational » dont la défense a pourtant longtemps été exclue.
Parce qu’elle transcende la distinction entre les sphères supranationale et intergouvernementale, l’Union européenne de la défense devait être appréhendée non seulement sous l’angle du Traité sur l’Union européenne (TUE) qui régit la PSDC, mais également sous l’angle du Traité sur le fonctionnement de l’Union européenne (TFUE) et du Traité instituant la Communauté européenne de l’énergie atomique (TCEEA, dit traité Euratom), auxquels est respectivement dédiée chacune des trois parties de cet ouvrage. Les commentaires portent sur les dispositions de ces traités et sur les divers actes dérivés qui trouvent à s’appliquer en matière de défense, façonnant ainsi les contours de l’Union européenne de la défense.
Alors que les questions sécuritaires redeviennent une préoccupation majeure des citoyens européens comme de leurs gouvernants et que se pose la question – existentielle pour l’Europe – de l’émergence d’une véritable défense commune, l’ouvrage s’adresse aux praticiens, aux décideurs politiques (nationaux et européens), aux experts en matière de défense et aux universitaires (étudiants, doctorants et enseignants-chercheurs) qui trouveront là une approche inédite de la défense européenne par le droit.
Lire mon chapitre sur Article 173 TFUE: https://www.larcier-intersentia.com/fr/l-union-europeenne-defense-9782802772774.html#product.info.tab.summary
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The European Defence Commissioner is Here
By introducing a defence commissioner, Ursula von der Leyen’s second European Commission makes clear that Europe’s security is an urgent priority. Defence industrial policy will, by necessity, be a key focus.
IP Quarterly, 2024
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Keep it Moving: From Mobility to Logistics in European Defence
The European Union (EU) has been developing military mobility, but so far with mixed results. It is time to rethink these efforts by investing more generally in military logistics. With the forthcoming “Niinistö Report” and defence White Paper, there is an opportunity to develop the EU’s defence preparedness and make a wider contribution to European defence. Working with NATO where possible, the EU could develop an integrated approach to military logistics that includes transport, depots, mobile camps, air and missile defence and more.
CSDS Policy Brief 26/2024
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Towards Ambition and Consistency in European Defence Investments
Following the results of the European elections, Ursula von der Leyen delivered a statement at the European Parliament on 18 July 2024 to support her second mandate as European Commission President. Outlining her vision for the future, the President stated that Europe “can choose to invest in the security and defence of its own continent“. As part of this vision, the President went on to state that Europe’s investments in defence were still too low, ineffective and fragmented. To this end, the ambition for Europe must be to create a genuine single market in defence and to invest in more high-end defence capabilities. Ever since Russia’s war on Ukraine, these have been obvious components of a revitalised European defence, but the months and years ahead will be a genuine test of how far the EU is committed to protecting European citizens and defending Europe.
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Security of Supply: How Can the EU Help Ensure Defence Preparedness?
Given the geopolitical outlook for Europe, security of supply is a necessary element of enhancing the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB) and ensuring industrial readiness and strategic autonomy. The European Commission has proposed a security of supply regime, not least to overcome market fragmentation. A key challenge will be overcoming the voluntary nature of past security of supply initiatives and managing EU member state interests. Security of supply in the EU can be achieved through the creation of a genuine Single Market in defence, more effective contracting, stockpiling, investment screening and defence partnerships.
CSDS Policy Brief
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Daniel Fiott 