The report says that the current rearmament plans of EU states apparently do not make it possible to close gaps in air and missile defense, the combat readiness of ground forces and naval forces, as well as in ammunition and UAV stocks.
The authors of the document write that, in response to the unstable and deteriorating security situation and the threat of Russian aggression, the EU must act more decisively and significantly faster in order to ensure defense readiness by 2030.
The European Defence Agency report was prepared at the request of the leaders of the 27 EU countries to assess progress in strengthening Europe’s defense capabilities. According to Reuters, defense ministers of European countries will meet in Brussels on September 28 to discuss the document, after which it will be presented to the bloc’s leaders.
On March 19, 2025, the European Commission and the EU High Representative Kaja Kallas presented the “White Paper on European Defence” and the plan to rearm Europe, “Readiness 2030”. In a statement by the European Union, it was said that the “white paper” contains proposals for joint work, and the rearmament package backs them with financial resources.
Kallas said that the EU had identified gaps in the bloc countries’ capabilities and, in line with NATO priorities, had proposed cooperation ideas to address them. According to her, this implies replenishing European stocks of ammunition, weapons, and military equipment, supplies to Ukraine, the development of large-scale pan-European projects, pooling demand, and standardizing requirements.
She also spoke about support for European industry, expanding production capacity, and helping EU countries with tasks they cannot handle alone because of cost or complexity.
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