EU Council approves first five European Defence Projects of Common Interest

The Council approved the first five European Defence Projects of Common Interest, moving EU-backed defence industrial cooperation into the funding phase. The projects are intended to strengthen Europe's defence readiness and industrial capacity and to support capabilities in drones and counter-drone systems, maritime and seabed defence, space, air and missile defence, and protection of Europe's eastern flank.

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The Council said the projects are designed to bring European countries together on defence initiatives that are too large or too complex for individual states to develop alone. The five selected projects are now eligible for EU funding through the European Defence Industry Programme, or EDIP, which was adopted in 2025.

The funding is meant to support initial deployment and create a basis for possible further funding through the upcoming European Competitiveness Fund. The Commission launched a call for expressions of interest on 16 February 2026 to consult EU member states on possible European Defence Projects of Common Interest.

Nine project proposals were submitted. On 3 July 2026, after taking into account the opinion of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the European Defence Agency, the Commission proposed a list of five EDPCIs.

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The text also says the EU is working closely with Norway and Ukraine.

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