After remarks by European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius, debate has intensified inside the European Union over creating a new European defense union. The trigger was the deterioration of transatlantic relations, President Donald Trump’s criticism of NATO, and fears that Europe can no longer rely on Washington’s military backing to the same extent as before.
Reuters reported on April 24 that the Pentagon had begun analyzing ways to pressure European allies amid disagreements over the conflict with Iran. At the same time, the United States is considering reducing its military presence in Europe, while its defense strategy increasingly places responsibility for Ukraine on European states.
“Given how much transatlantic relations have worsened, relying on NATO is becoming less and less practical,” HCSS analyst Davis Ellison told the publication.
Kubilius proposed a new intergovernmental treaty modeled on the Schengen Agreement and called for a genuine European Defence Union including the United Kingdom, Norway and Ukraine. In his view, Europe’s defense readiness has three components: material, institutional and political.
In 2025, the EU focused on the material dimension, including adoption of the Readiness 2030 plan, which envisages up to 800 billion euros for strengthening Europe’s defense infrastructure. Supporters of reform argue, however, that increased spending alone will not be enough.
The proposed new architecture centers on a European Security Council of about 10 to 12 participants built around the E5+ format. It would prepare key decisions, including those under Article 42(7) of the EU Treaty on collective defense. Critics warn that any new treaty would require the consent of all EU member states and ratification by national parliaments, making the project politically and legally extremely difficult.