Defence, security and military technology
In March 2025 the European Commission presented the White Paper for European Defence - Readiness 2030, focusing on investment, critical capabilities and industrial cooperation.
NATO estimated in 2024 that 23 allies would spend at least 2% of GDP on defence, while Europe and Canada increased defence spending by 18%.
In March 2024 the Commission allocated more than €500 million to 31 industrial projects designed to increase European production of ammunition, explosives, powder and missiles.
In 2024 NATO’s technology accelerator expanded to 23 accelerator sites and 182 test centres across 28 allied countries, targeting AI, cyber, 5G, hypersonics and autonomous systems.
The treaty signed in December 2023 created the international organisation behind the Global Combat Air Programme, a trilateral next-generation combat-air project.