In a resolution adopted on Wednesday, Parliament calls on the EU to act urgently and ensure its own security. This will mean, MEPs say, strengthening relationships with like-minded partners, and strongly diminishing its reliance on non-EU countries.

A so-called “White Paper” on the future of European defence, that the Commission and the High Representative are expected to present next week should put forward concrete proposals to the European Council to enable “truly ground-breaking efforts” and actions “close to those of wartime” , say MEPs, also welcoming the recently tabled ReArm plan.

The EU as a genuine security provider

To achieve peace and stability in Europe, the EU must support Ukraine and become more resilient itself, MEPs argue. The resolution states, “Europe is today facing the most profound military threat to its territorial integrity since the end of the Cold War”. It calls on member states, international partners, and NATO allies to lift all restrictions on the use of Western weapons systems delivered to Ukraine against military targets on Russian territory.

Russia – supported by its allies Belarus, China, North Korea and Iran – is “the most significant direct and indirect threat against the EU”, the resolution states. MEPs stress how recent actions and statements by the Trump administration have increased concerns about the future stance of the US towards Russia, NATO, and European security, and strongly condemn US threats against Greenland. Against this background, Parliament underlines that EU defence efforts “cannot remain limited in size, fragmented in scope, and lengthy in delivery. MEPs demand increased efforts in the military field, but also in the industrial, technological and intelligence sectors.

Ready for the most extreme military contingencies

The text says the EU must enable its administration to “move much faster through the procedures”, in case of war or other large-scale security crises. While stressing the importance of EU-NATO cooperation, MEPs also call for the development of a fully capable European pillar in NATO that is able to act autonomously whenever necessary.

MEPs believe that EU must decide on a united and clear long-term vision for the European defence industry, and call for a significant increase in common procurement of equipment from EU member states. They insist that decision-making on European defence should be less complex. They endorse the creation of a council of defence ministers, and a move from unanimity to qualified majority for EU decisions in this field, with the exception of military operations with an executive mandate.

Parliament warns that, without a substantial investment increase, EU security and defence objectives will not be reached for either military support to Ukraine, nor for the improvement of the common European security. MEPs state that “urgent needs cannot wait for the next multiannual financial framework”. They ask for “innovative solutions for finding additional funding without delay” such as a system of European defence bonds for financing large-scale military investments.

The resolution was adopted by 419 votes in favour,204 against and46 abstentions.