On November 14, the European Union broke new ground by funding a collective arms purchase for the first time, with €300 million allocated to five joint weapons projects.
Each project will receive €60 million, largely to support Ukraine’s defense needs. Margrethe Vestager, European Commission Vice-President, noted, “This is the first time that we have used the EU budget to support member states in the joint purchase” of arms.
Previously, the EU helped fund weapons for Ukraine through special financial mechanisms created outside the EU’s primary budget. However, this time, the bloc tapped into its main budget to procure anti-aircraft systems, ammunition, and armored vehicles, using the European Defence Industry Reinforcement through Common Procurement (EDIRPA) instrument. Created after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, EDIRPA will facilitate urgent defense needs and is set to operate until 2025.
Joint procurement is expected to cut costs and enhance efficiency for EU nations, while also boosting the European defense industry by providing more predictable demand. Member states will benefit from improved interoperability in their armed forces through these bulk purchases. Two of the funded projects—MISTRAL and JAMIE—focus on air and missile defense systems, while CAVS will promote a common procurement of 6×6 armored vehicles. Two additional initiatives, CPoA and HE 155 mm, target the shared procurement of 155 mm artillery ammunition, a critical need for Ukraine’s front lines.
In recent months, the EU has struggled to keep up with Ukraine’s demand for ammunition, leading to setbacks in Ukraine’s defense efforts, particularly in the strategically vital area of Avdiivka. Kyiv expressed frustration as EU member states had to arrange improvised collaborations to send additional supplies. Though an EU official once claimed European arms manufacturers could produce 1.4 million 155 mm shells by year’s end, a subsequent investigation found the actual capacity was closer to 580,000 units.
This arms procurement marks a significant shift from the EU’s original mission, which emerged post-World War II to foster peace through economic and political unity. Now, the same framework is being applied to equip Europe and its allies for defense, underscoring the EU’s evolving role amid rising geopolitical tensions.
