The European Court of Auditors warns that the EU will struggle to meet its defence readiness objective by 2030

Achieving the defence readiness objective by 2030 remains difficult for the European Union, despite ambitious plans and a significant increase in military spending, the European Court of Auditors warned in a report published on Thursday. Auditors say that, after 2020, EU defence policy shifted from crisis management to strengthening the capabilities of member states and adopting a more structured approach at European level. Between 2020 and 2025, the EU countries’ combined defence spending increased by almost 80%.

However, the report identifies persistent problems: fragmentation of national systems, industrial bottlenecks, lengthy production and delivery times, dependence on external suppliers, slow political coordination and a lack of effective planning at Union level. These difficulties could lead to fragmented investment, duplicated efforts and capability gaps. Increased funding could boost the European defence industry, innovation and cooperation with Ukraine, but it also brings risks related to raw materials, skilled personnel and the sustainability of public finances. Auditors also warn about the complexity of governance and overlapping responsibilities.