EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Union of European Federalists proposes a Common European Defence
As war rages on European eastern borders and transatlantic alliance is in danger, the Union of European Federalists releases a proposal for a Common European Defence System (EDS), in view of the upcoming meeting of the European Council on 6th March, the Plenary of the European Parliament of 10th March, and the publication of the White Paper on Defence on 19th March, 2025.
The EDS consists of the national armies of the Member States and a 28th European Army, coordinated in a common structure. The EDS would be compatible with NATO and could serve as its European Pillar.
The proposal calls for :
- Massive joint defence investment, procurement, and research, as Russia’s military expenditure, calculated in purchasing power parity, has surpassed Europe’s combined defence spending last year
- Extension of Common Security and Defence Policy missions to territorial defence and security in our immediate neighborhood
- A Rapid Deployment Capacity of 60.000 soldiers, becoming a 28th European Army, complementary to the 27 national armies in charge of territorial defence
- Europeanisation of French nuclear capabilities with shared financing from willing EU member states.