EU Council approves five priority projects for the bloc's militarization

The EU Council at the level of defense ministers has approved five priority projects for the bloc's militarization, including the production of aerial and underwater drones, as well as air defense systems and military satellites, which will receive funding under the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP).

"The EU Council today approved five European defense projects of common interest to strengthen European military readiness and the capabilities of the military industry," the EU Council statement notes.

"These five projects will now be able to receive funding under the EDIP program, which will ensure the launch of the projects and lay the groundwork for their further possible funding from the future European Competitiveness Fund (which is to be launched from 2028 as part of the EU's new seven-year budget plan and will be aimed at stimulating the EU economy with military orders — ed.)," the document says.

It is emphasized that these projects will be implemented jointly by EU countries, since they are "too complex or too large-scale" to be implemented by EU countries individually.

The list includes the DECODER project for the production of strike drones and interceptor drones, the IMSD project to create an integrated system of maritime and underwater drones, SPACE — for the development of space and satellite assets, and EU-FIAMD — for the creation of an integrated air defense/missile defense system that will have "advanced early warning capabilities." The same list also includes the Eastern Flank Watch (EFW) project, which the EU has been trying to launch since 2025.

Source: TASS