EU Defence Projects of Common Interest: Five Backed, Funding Tight
The European Union approved its first five European Defence Projects of Common Interest in September 2026. The projects are meant to close key capability gaps
The European Union approved its first five European Defence Projects of Common Interest in September 2026. The projects are meant to close key capability gaps and cut the fragmentation of money and effort that holds European defence back.
Analysts at the EU Institute for Security Studies say the projects could build momentum for cooperation. They also warn that structure, limited funding and overlap with existing programs could stand in the way.
What the five projects cover
The projects, known as EDPCIs, are designed as major initiatives too complex for any single member state to carry out alone. Their five areas are drones and counter-drone systems, maritime and seabed defence, space, integrated air and missile defence, and protection of the eastern flank.
To succeed, the analysis says, they need enough resources, a clear focus on delivering results, and a footing in political and operational reality.
The problem of breadth
One challenge is scale. The projects are meant to be complex by nature, but many are so broad that they take in whole capability areas.
Maritime and seabed defence, for example, covers common procurement of naval platforms and underwater systems. A project that wide is harder to steer toward a finished product.
Industry moves in parallel
Companies are already pairing up in some of the same fields. LMT Defence and Thales Italia signed a memorandum of understanding to explore drone detection that uses mobile phone networks to track and identify drones by their behavior.
The two firms already work together on 5G COMPAD programs supported by the European Defence Fund. Their agreement leaves open a possible proof of concept, depending on agreement over scope, resources and milestones.
In the north, Ericsson, Kongsberg, Nokia, Patria, Saab and Terma issued a joint Nordic Compass Defence Statement. They said Europe faces its most serious security situation in decades, with threats reaching every domain from the seabed to space.
The companies argue that bigger budgets are not enough. Funding must become capability that is fielded fast, produced at scale, interoperable across borders and backed by security of supply, they said.
"No Nordic country can meet these threats alone," the statement said.
