EU Approves Ukraine’s Participation In Defence Fund Projects

BY ANITA WRIGHT

THE European Union has cleared the way for Ukrainian companies to participate in EU-funded defence research and development projects. This follows a provisional agreement reached between negotiators from EU member states and the European Parliament.

According to the Danish EU Council presidency, the deal links Ukraine to the European Defence Fund (EDF) — an initiative designed to boost the competitiveness, innovation, and efficiency of Europe’s defence sector.

The EDF carries a budget of about €9.5 billion (approximately $10.9 billion) for the 2021–2027 period. It supports collaborative projects that enhance the EU’s defence capabilities and reduce dependence on non-European technologies.

Under the new agreement, negotiators also endorsed plans to expand and simplify access to EU budget funds for defence-related research, industrial investment, and infrastructure development. This includes proposed amendments to several EU programmes, such as Horizon Europe, to accommodate defence-sector initiatives.

The move comes amid heightened security concerns over Russia’s military posture. Intelligence assessments indicate that Russia could regain the capacity to launch another large-scale conflict by 2030.

Danish European Affairs Minister Marie Bjerre described the agreement as a “strong message” of Europe’s commitment to collective security and self-reliance.

“By opening key EU programmes to defence-related investments, the EU is reinforcing efforts to strengthen Europe’s defence and technology industries,” Bjerre said.
“It is a necessary step toward a stronger, more resilient, and more capable Europe that can defend itself by 2030,” she added.