EU Council approves first five defence projects of common interest

The Council of the EU has approved the first five European Defence Projects of Common Interest, initiatives to support large-scale capability development and bolster industrial capacity across Europe.  

An announcement from the European Commission on 28 September says that the projects will provide EU member states, Norway, and Ukraine with frameworks for collaboration in areas where capability delivery is too complex for individual countries.  

What will the European Defence Projects of Common Interest focus on?  

The commission says that the five priority areas for the defence projects are:  

• Air and missile defence
• Drones and counter-drone systems  
• Maritime and seabed defence  
• Space
• Strengthened security of the EU’s Eastern flank  

The approval means that the projects are now eligible to receive EU funding through the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP). Adopted by the EU in 2025, the EDIP is designed to support the growth of European defence production capacity.  

A total of EUR325 million has been allocated to establishing and implementing the defence projects of common interest, which will be derived from a wider EUR1.5 billion EDIP fund. 

What are the next steps?  

The EU says that an average of 18 member states will participate in each project, with Ukraine taking part in four of the five projects.  

“The commission will now work closely with participating member states to support implementation and monitor progress against agreed milestones,” Andrius Kubilius, European Commissioner for Defence and Space, said. 

The projects are also expected to extend beyond the current EDIP funding period, which will conclude by the end of 2027.  

Further funding for the existing and future defence projects that are expected to be announced will come from the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), a long-term investment budget from the EU. In particular, the MFF’s proposed European Competitiveness Fund will provide financial support.