The European Union is significantly increasing its investment in the development of a modern and innovative defense industry, in which Ukrainian defense enterprises already play a key role.
This was stated by European Commissioner for Economy, Valdis Dombrovskis, during the Spring Meetings 2025 of the World Bank and IMF in Washington.
“Europe must not only spend more but also spend better—and together. We are creating incentives for member states to jointly procure defense equipment, develop interoperability, ensure predictable orders, and reduce costs. We are also open to participation and investment from our partners, under certain conditions. The European defense industrial base includes Ukraine. The Ukrainian nation has paid a tremendous price, and its battlefield has become a real testing ground for the development and improvement of European and Ukrainian defense products,” Dombrovskis noted.
He emphasized that prioritizing European investment in the defense sector will not only strengthen the EU's defense capabilities but also boost competitiveness, foster innovation, create jobs, and contribute to the formation of a unified European defense market.
According to Dombrovskis, these efforts will also enhance the global role of the euro by responding to international demand for European products, and help the EU close the technological gap with countries like the United States and China.
“Artificial intelligence and quantum technologies used in defense manufacturing will form the backbone of our competitiveness. Europe is currently lagging behind the U.S. and China in technological development, and the EU sees eliminating this gap as a strategic priority,” the Commissioner added.
