Prepare for the Fight of the Future

Decades of underinvestment and uncoordinated military capability development have hollowed out Europe’s armed forces.

The need to transfer military equipment to Ukraine following Russia’s aggression is further depleting national stockpiles.

With war having returned to Europe, EU Member States must invest more in their own security and better coordinate their efforts.

This brief advances and expands on the following recommendations to improve cooperation in capability development and reduce European fragmentation and inefficiencies:

1. Improve harmonisation of capability requirements.

2. Define an EU defence industrial strategy.

3. Clarify the role of the European Commission in defence industrial matters.

4. Increase partnerships with strategic industrial actors outside the EU.