Brussels, 25 September, (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – European Union countries are not strengthening their military capabilities quickly or effectively enough to meet their 2030 EU defence readiness target, according to the first annual assessment prepared for EU leaders by the European Defence Agency.
The report warns that current national plans appear insufficient to close critical military gaps by the end of the decade, with shortcomings identified in areas including air and missile defence, naval forces, drones, ammunition and ground combat capabilities.
EU report finds defence plans fall short
The assessment comes as the EU attempts to translate sharply higher military spending into forces capable of responding to a deteriorating European security environment.
Defence expenditure by the EU’s 27 member states reached €418 billion in 2025, a 20% increase from 2024, according to the European Defence Agency. Spending is projected to rise to €454 billion in 2026, equivalent to around 2.4% of EU GDP.
Despite that increase, the new assessment says existing plans “do not seem to meet” what is required to eliminate several critical capability gaps by 2030.
The findings highlight a central concern for European policymakers: higher budgets do not automatically deliver the equipment, industrial capacity and operational forces required for military readiness.
Defence agency calls for faster military investment
The European Defence Agency says the pace of change must accelerate significantly.
“To achieve its 2030 readiness objective, Europe needs a decisive change in the scale and pace of defence investment, capability development and industrial capacity,” the agency said in the report’s executive summary.
It also warned that responding to the security environment and Russia’s aggression requires Europe to move “substantially faster” than it is currently doing.
The warning follows years of increased European military expenditure since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Russia risks remain central to EU planning
Russia’s war against Ukraine continues to shape European defence policy. EU governments are seeking stronger air defences, larger ammunition reserves, expanded drone capabilities and more resilient land and naval forces.
The EU defence readiness programme is intended to close those gaps by 2030 while encouraging governments to purchase more equipment together.
EU leaders have also called for urgent implementation of the €150 billion Security Action for Europe loan programme, known as SAFE, which supports increased defence investment through common procurement.
Russia has denied that it intends to attack an EU or NATO member. European governments nevertheless continue to strengthen military preparedness against conventional and hybrid security threats.
EU defence spending reaches record levels
The latest figures illustrate the scale of Europe’s military expansion. Twenty-three EU member states spent at least 2% of GDP on defence in 2025, while equipment procurement reached €115 billion.
European Defence Agency chief executive André Denk said in July: “EU Member States are making unprecedented investments in defence,” adding that spending could reach €547 billion by 2029 if current trends continue.
The agency has stressed that investment must be accompanied by stronger industrial production and greater cooperation between national armed forces.
Defence ministers meet in Brussels
EU defence ministers will meet in Brussels on 28 September, with military support for Ukraine, air defence, hybrid threats and measures targeting Russia’s shadow fleet on the agenda.
The meeting will be preceded by a European Defence Agency Steering Board chaired by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.
EU leaders are then due to return to European defence in October, using the annual readiness assessment to examine progress towards the 2030 objective and determine where further action is required.
