President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen presented the ReArm Europe programme, which aims to increase the continent’s security and resilience. She made the announcement at a briefing on 4 March.
The head of the European Commission believes that the EU is facing dangerous times. The threats to European security are very real.
We are living in dangerous times.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) March 4, 2025
Europe‘s security is threatened in a very real way.
Today I present ReArm Europe.
A plan for a safer and more resilient Europe ↓ https://t.co/CYTytB5ZMk
“The real question we face is whether Europe is ready to act in accordance with what the situation dictates, and whether Europe is able to act quickly and ambitiously, as needed,” she said.
Defence plans have been discussed at numerous meetings, including the summit held in London on Sunday.
This includes immediate assistance to Ukraine, which is needed in the short term, as well as long-term needs, which require greater responsibility for our own security.
Ursula von der Leyen added that she has sent a letter to EU leaders today with a plan for rearming Europe. The proposals concern how to increase defence spending and strengthen our own security capabilities.
The plan has five steps. The first part is to address the issue of defence funding at the national level. Member states are ready to invest more in their own security, so the European Commission wants to help them do so. If states increase defence spending by an average of 1.5% of GDP, this could create fiscal space of €650 billion over four years.
The second proposal is a new instrument: a €150 million loan to member states for defence investments. According to Ursula von der Leyen, it is about spending better and doing so together. It focuses on areas such as air and missile defence, artillery systems, missiles and ammunition, drones and anti-drone systems, as well as other needs, from cyber security to military mobility. This will help member states to pool demand and buy together. With this equipment, states will be able to step up their support for Ukraine on a large scale, she said, adding that this is about immediate military supplies to Ukraine.
The third point is to use the power of the EU budget. The EC President said that member states would receive additional opportunities and incentives.
The fourth and fifth points relate to the mobilisation of private capital, in particular through the European Investment Bank.
According to Ursula von der Leyen, the programme could raise €800 billion for defence to strengthen Europe.
- The presentation of the rearmament programme took place against the backdrop of the US shifting its policy away from defence support for the European Union and Ukraine. Following Donald Trump’s threats not to defend NATO member states that do not meet the Alliance’s defence spending target, the EU has stepped up efforts to strengthen its own defence.