BRUSSELS

European Union member states on Wednesday agreed on the Council's position to encourage defense-related investments within the EU budget as part of the ReArm Europe initiative, which seeks to strengthen the bloc's military capabilities and increase defense spending.

The position aims to open up several key EU programs to more defense-oriented projects and make investments in the European Defense Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB) faster and more coordinated.

"With the Council’s agreed position, we want to open key EU programmes to more defence-related investments, and we are enabling a more agile and coordinated effort to strengthen Europe’s Defence Industrial and Technological Base. It is a necessary step towards further boosting the EU’s defence readiness towards 2030," Denmark's European Affairs Minister Marie Bjerre said in a statement.

While member states broadly supported the European Commission's proposal, the Council introduced an additional provision to adapt eligibility rules for activities with dual-use and defense applications under Horizon Europe, aligning them with other EU defense instruments.

Following the council's endorsement, the EU presidency will begin negotiations with the European Parliament, with the goal of reaching a final agreement before the end of 2025.

The initiative complements the "defense readiness omnibus package" presented by the European Commission in June 2025, which is currently under discussion in the Council. Both proposals are part of broader efforts to enhance Europe's defense readiness, in line with the European Council's conclusions from March 2025.

The ReArm Europe/Readiness 2030 plan aims to mobilize up to €800 billion ($929 billion) in defense spending over the next five years.