The Defence Fund is a step in a right direction but our long-term security requires common security and defence structures on the EU level

Brussels, 27.05.2025

Key points:

• We welcome the Commission’s initiatives to promote more European cooperation in security and defence, but fear that these once again become short-term facilitation of inter-governmental cooperation, instead of tackling of a united European Security and Defence Union

• We call for the establishment of a European Defence Union and to increasing majority voting in the decision-making on defence and security policy.

• The ministers at the General Affairs Council, agreed on the implementation of the SAFE – Instrument, a lending scheme allowing Member states to borrow money from the Commission in order to invest into defence projects.

• After Next Generation EU, this new common borrowing scheme constitutes an important step in deepening the federalisation of the Union and should be replicated to finance other European public goods.

Today, the ministers of the EU member states at their General Affairs council session agreed on the implementation of the SAFE – Programme, a €150 Billion common borrowing scheme that the Commission had proposed in its ‘Readiness 2030’ plan back on the 19 March 2025. The Commission reacted to the growing disengagement from the US’ military investment and presence in Europe and the rise of the threat of Russia.

This marks an important step towards a more integrated European defence union. This scheme allows Member states to borrow money from the EU that it had itself borrowed from the capital markets,  in order to invest in defense projects. This allows states to make substantial investments to boost their defence and their economy at large, at a lower cost both through common debt and common procurement, both of which should be mainstreamed to other European public goods,

Furthermore, we welcome the decision, to make the programme open for European allies such as Ukraine, EEA-EFTA countries, the UK, as well as as candidate and potential candidate countries to participate and profit off of the scheme. This shows that Europe is committed to defending itself with all the relevant partners and its commitment to building a true defence Union, together with its future members.

The process may be slowed down by the European Parliament threatening to sue the Commission over having applied an emergency clause in the treaties, to keep Parliament out of the negotiations over this scheme. While we feel strong defence and security capacity on European level is important, that should not override our democratic processes and values which we want to defend.

“The Commission proposal, while a step in the right direction, focuses on facilitating inter-governmental cooperation instead of creating a true security and defence capacity on the European level which is under democratic control. Such solutions do not serve as long term solutions. We call for a real defence union and increasing majority voting on defence and security policy. The capability to defend our values also requires adherence to them by ensuring democratic oversight by representatives elected by the citizens through the European Parliament’s mandate”, reminds Kati Systä, JEF Europe Executive Board member.

JEF Europe welcomes this as a step in development towards a full fledged defence Union, as well as to a common borrowing scheme, both for which federalists have advocated for decades. However, this development must go hand in hand with the strengthening of diplomatic capacities in order for Europe to speak with one voice on all foreign policy matters. 

About JEF Europe

The Young European Federalists (JEF Europe) is a political youth NGO advocating for the creation of a democratic European federation as a guarantee for peace, the rule of law and human rights. JEF Europe promotes true European citizenship, works for the widening and deepening of the European Union and strives for a more just and integrated society on the European continent. Established in 1972, the organisation has more than 10,000 activists organised in over 300 national, regional and local sections in 35 countries. 

Further Reading:

• For a common European Response to the invasion of Ukraine and the future of Ukraine – JEF Europe

• Establishing a European Security and Defence Union – JEF Europe

• Action Committee for the United States of Europe – Press Release for a European Defence Union, for a European Federation

• memorandum on a – european defence union

• Press Release: Commission proposals for new long-term EU Budget and Recovery Plan a further Step for a Federal Europe

• Press Release: Our Future will not be a One Shot

For more information, contact:

Christelle Savall
President
Young European Federalists (JEF Europe)
president@jef.eu

Kati Systä
Executive Board Member
Young European Federalists (JEF Europe)
kati.systa@jef.eu