EU's ability to defend against invasion remains in doubt, official audit finds

A European Court of Auditors report published on September 3, 2026, warns that the European Union's goal of achieving defence readiness by 2030 remains in doubt due to fragmented national systems and a heavy reliance on the United States. Despite a 79% increase in defence spending between 2020 and 2025, the bloc faces industrial bottlenecks. Meanwhile, Ukraine has requested a derogation from 'Buy European' rules to purchase US-made Patriot interceptors using an EU loan.

EU defence readiness by 2030

• ▪The European Court of Auditors member Marek Opioła stated that achieving defence preparedness in the European Union by 2030 remains challenging due to fragmented national systems, industrial bottlenecks, and reliance on the United States.
• ▪A European Court of Auditors report published on September 3, 2026, states that the European Union's ability to respond to a foreign invasion by 2030 remains in doubt.
• ▪European Union member states increased defence spending by 79% between 2020 and 2025 in response to the Russian threat and to meet NATO spending targets.
• ▪The European Union set its goal of defence readiness by 2030 in 2025, following intelligence warnings that Russia could be ready to wage a large-scale war in Europe around that time.

Fragmented national defence systems

• ▪The European Court of Auditors warned that fragmented national defence industries and insufficient cooperation between European Union governments risk duplication in spending and persistent military capability gaps.
• ▪France and Germany abandoned a €100 billion project to build a joint fighter jet because the lead companies could not resolve disputes over leadership and control.

US military supply dependence

• ▪Between February 2022 and June 2023, 78% of European Union governments' defence acquisitions were sourced outside the bloc, with the United States representing 63% of those purchases.
• ▪A senior auditor at the European Court of Auditors stated that European Union purchases from the United States increased after Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine to quickly acquire available military capabilities.

Ukraine Patriot interceptor request

• ▪European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated on September 2, 2026, that Ukraine requested funding worth several billion euros for air defences, including Patriot air-defence systems.
• ▪Ukraine requested an exemption from 'Buy European' procurement rules to acquire United States-made Patriot interceptor missiles using the European Union's €90 billion support loan.
• ▪A European Commission spokesperson stated that Ukraine's request for Patriot interceptor missiles requires a derogation from rules requiring majority European content in military purchases under the loan.

Buy European procurement policy

• ▪The European Union requires common defence spending to benefit domestic defence industries or those of closely-associated countries like Ukraine and Norway, with some flexibility allowed for urgent needs.
• ▪In November 2024, the European Union met its pledge of providing 1 million rounds of ammunition to Ukraine, delivering the ammunition eight months behind schedule.

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