Melike Pala
17 April 2026•Update: 17 April 2026
European Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius on Friday called for a new intergovernmental treaty to establish a "genuine European defense union," arguing that the European Union's current legal framework is insufficient to meet evolving security challenges.
Speaking at the 4th Annual Conference of the European Commission Legal Service in Brussels, Kubilius said the proposed defense union should extend beyond EU member states and include partners such as the United Kingdom, Norway and Ukraine.
"Are the existing legal landscape, existing treaties and institutions built on the basis of those treaties-- existing decision-making rules according to the existing treaties. Are they more a help or a hindrance for European defense?" Kubilius asked.
"That is why I urge the creation of a new genuine European defense union, which would include also the United Kingdom, Norway and Ukraine," he said, emphasizing the need for Europe to be able "to fight as a united Europe, not just as a combination of 27."
Kubilius suggested the new framework could follow the model of the Schengen Agreement, which began as an intergovernmental initiative outside EU treaties before being integrated into the bloc's legal system.
He argued that such an approach would allow willing countries to move forward more quickly, bypassing constraints in existing EU treaties that currently leave defense largely under national control.
Kubilius' proposal comes amid growing debate about Europe's defense autonomy, as the US signals a gradual shift of focus toward other regions.
He highlighted discussions within NATO about a transition from a US-centric to a more European-centric defense model, stressing that this shift requires stronger institutional and legal foundations within Europe.
