The European Commission’s recent proposal for large-scale European Defence Projects of Common Interest (EDPCIs) is paving the way for joint ventures across Europe’s defence industry, with planned defence initiatives worth around 300 billion euros expected to transform the continent’s defence business landscape.
Announced on July 3, 2026, the projects aim to help EU member states strengthen their defence capabilities by jointly developing key military systems.
European Commissioner for Defence Andrius Kubilius described the initiative as “an important step towards strengthening the defence capabilities of EU member states”, adding that EDPCIs are ambitious, long-term projects designed to improve Europe’s preparedness and enhance its strategic autonomy.
The EDPCIs focus on five priority areas:
- Drone and Counter Drone Defence (DECODER): 5 billion euros by 2033
- Integrated Maritime and Seabed Defence (IMSD): 72 billion euros by 2045
- Space-based Capabilities (SPACE): 24 billion euros by 2034
- EU Federated Air and Missile Defence (EU-FIAMD): 80 billion euros by 2040
Eastern Flank Watch (EFW): 100 billion euros by 2036, aimed at strengthening security along the EU’s eastern flank.
Greek lawmaker and PASOK–Movement for Change MEP Giannis Maniatis said the establishment of the EDPCIs represented a major opportunity for Greece, its armed forces and its defence industry.
“We claimed and achieved the establishment of European Defence Projects of Common Interest worth around 300 billion euros for all member states,” Maniatis said, adding that drones, counter-drone systems, space defence capabilities, air defence and integrated maritime and underwater threat response systems would be at the centre of European funding.
“The next step is the approval of the Commission’s proposal by member states in the Council,” he said, questioning whether Greece would miss another opportunity, as he argued had happened with the Recovery Fund and the SAFE instrument, or whether it would finally adopt a structured plan to capitalise on the initiative.
The projects form part of the broader European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP), worth 1.5 billion euros, which was approved in December 2025. Under the programme, the European Commission plans an initial allocation of around 325 million euros through 2028 to support the creation and development of the first EDPCI projects, as outlined in the work programme published on March 30, 2026.
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