White Paper on European Defence, 19 March 2025

On 19 March the European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, presented the Joint White Paper for European Defence Readiness 2030 (hereinafter referred to as the "White Paper").

This is a vitally important document, which the Commission undertook to draw up at the beginning of its new mandate, but which has become even more relevant following recent events on the international scene. It is a key element in the strategy to mobilise instruments and funding to strengthen the EU's defence, as outlined by Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen in her communication of 4 March, announcing the so-called ReArm Europe Plan/Readiness 2030, and the subsequent extraordinary European Council meeting of 6 March, which endorsed the proposal.

The purpose of this note is to analyse the content of the White Paper and assess its consequences for the defence sector, as it contains a wide range of legal and financial proposals.

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