The Commission and the High Representative have introduced a significant initiative to EU Member States, titled the Preserving Peace – Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030. This initiative is designed to enhance Europe’s defense capabilities in a rapidly changing security environment.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized, “Recent threats have demonstrated that Europe is vulnerable. We must safeguard every citizen and every piece of our territory. Europe’s response must be characterized by unity, solidarity, and resolve. The Defence Roadmap presents a coherent strategy with shared objectives and measurable milestones leading us toward 2030. What gets measured gets accomplished. This transition from strategic intent to operational action initiates four European Flagships: the European Drone Defence Initiative, the Eastern Flank Watch, the European Air Shield, and the European Space Shield. This approach not only bolsters our defense industries and speeds up production but also sustains our long-standing assistance to Ukraine.”
In alignment with directives from the European Council issued in June, the Defence Roadmap delineates explicit targets and milestones aimed at bridging capability gaps, expediting defense investments among Member States, and steering the EU toward comprehensive defense readiness by 2030. A crucial facet of this effort is the steadfast support for Ukraine.
European Readiness Flagships
The Defence Roadmap introduces four foundational European Readiness Flagships to facilitate effective joint action:
- European Drone Defence Initiative
- Eastern Flank Watch
- European Air Shield
- European Space Shield
These Flagships will enhance Europe’s capabilities to deter and defend across multiple domains—including land, air, maritime, cyber, and space—while directly aligning with NATO’s capability objectives.
Readiness through Capability Coalitions
Achieving comprehensive defense readiness necessitates that Member States’ armed forces are prepared to anticipate, plan for, and react to crises, including high-intensity conflicts. The roadmap advocates for the establishment of Capability Coalitions across nine critical domains to address key capability deficiencies through collaborative development and procurement:
- Air and missile defense
- Strategic enablers
- Military mobility
- Artillery systems
- Cyber, AI, and electronic warfare
- Missiles and ammunition
- Drones and counter-drones
- Ground combat systems
- Maritime operations
A Robust and Innovative EU Defence Industrial Base
Addressing existing gaps requires a robust EU defense industrial base capable of delivering necessary capabilities swiftly and at scale. It is imperative to exploit the full scope of innovative solutions, including those derived from Ukrainian advancements. Additionally, securing the resilience of defense supply chains, particularly by minimizing dependencies on essential raw materials and inputs, is vital for sustaining operational readiness.
Enhancing Defense Investment
The establishment of a streamlined and integrated European defense market is essential for amplifying production capacity, realizing economies of scale, and fostering innovation. The ambition by 2030 is to create a cohesive EU market characterized by uniform rules enabling rapid and substantial industrial output. Tracking industrial capabilities will commence with a focus on air and missile defense, drones, and space systems to ensure Europe can meet its urgent defense needs effectively.
This roadmap builds upon the ReArm Europe Plan/Readiness 2030, which represents a significant increase in public and private investment, granting Member States enhanced financial latitude to bolster production and readiness efforts. The Commission and the High Representative will present this roadmap to the European Council, outlining proposals for pan-European flagship projects that will steer Europe toward complete defense readiness by the 2030 deadline.
Additionally, plans are in place to establish an EU-wide military mobility framework by 2027. This structure will include harmonized regulations and a comprehensive network of transport routes—land, air, and sea—facilitating the rapid movement of troops and equipment across Europe. This endeavor, developed in close collaboration with NATO, aims to reinforce Europe’s crisis response capabilities.
Background
In March 2025, the Commission and the High Representative introduced the joint White Paper for European Defence – Readiness 2030, which was designed to complement the Commission’s ReArm Europe Plan/Readiness 2030. This ambitious defense package provides financial incentives for EU Member States to spur investment in crucial defense capabilities.
The activation of the national escape clause of the Stability and Growth Pact for defense purposes, along with the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) loan, constitutes the framework for the ReArm Europe Plan/Readiness 2030, enabling Member States to significantly and swiftly enhance their defense expenditures.
In June 2025, the European Council tasked the Commission and the High Representative with formulating a roadmap to monitor advancements on the White Paper and deliberate on subsequent steps toward fulfilling the defense readiness objectives.
