Implementation of the common security and defence policy – annual report 2025

The European Parliament adopted by 395 votes to 197, with 70 abstentions, a resolution on the implementation of the common security and defence policy - annual report 2025.

A deteriorating geopolitical context

Parliament stressed that Russia represents the principal and most significant threat to the EU and its Member States and emphasised the gravity and urgency of the threats that Russia and its allies, such as Belarus, Iran, and North Korea, pose to European security. It reaffirmed its unwavering support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and firmly opposed any initiative that would reward Russia for its aggression, lead to territorial changes, and result in Ukraine's future being decided without Ukraine, or Europe's security being decided without Europeans.

According to Members, contributing to Russia's defeat at the hands of Ukraine and ensuring the latter's success constitute the most efficient and cost-effective investments in European security in the short and medium term. The Council, along with its US partners, is urged to maintain and expand its sanctions regime against Russia, to apply a similar sanctions policy to all states that support it, including Belarus, Iran, and North Korea, and to sanction Chinese entities that supply dual-use goods and military equipment.

To ensure effective deterrence against Russian aggression and lasting peace with regard to Ukraine, credible and robust security guarantees are necessary. In this context, Members warmly welcomed the proposal to create a multinational ‘reassurance force’ for Ukraine.

Parliament advocated strategic measures to proactively combat hybrid threats and prevent interference in the democratic processes of accession countries. It considered Europe's dependence on external data, critical technologies, and supply chains to be a major vulnerability that could be exploited for coercive purposes. It called on the Commission to propose a comprehensive EU-wide strategy to ensure that the EU can attract, maintain and retain critical technologies within the EU, including by limiting foreign takeovers.

Parliament deplored that, in the aftermath of the Hamas terrorist attacks of 7 October 2023, the escalation of violence and violations of international law in Gaza and throughout the region are diminishing the prospects for long-term peace for the entire population of the Middle East. Welcoming the US-brokered peace plan between Israel and Hamas, which led to a ceasefire, it called on all parties to fully respect the ceasefire, return the body of the last deceased hostage to his family, allow the swift delivery of humanitarian aid, and permit access for other civilian assistance missions. It advocated for the development of a workable roadmap towards a two-state solution as envisioned in the New York Declaration endorsed by the UN General Assembly.

Members are concerned about the ongoing instability in Libya and setbacks in the Sahel, which has become a hotbed of jihadist violence stretching from the Sahel to Mozambique, with a risk of spillover into neighbouring regions and, ultimately, Europe.

Parliament stressed the importance of overall stability and peace in the Arctic and called on the EU and its Member States to take concrete and effective measures by implementing all available means to stop the shadow fleet. Members are concerned about foreign interference in Greenland, as well as the explicit threats by the United States government against Greenland's sovereignty and the recent refusal to rule out military intervention for this purpose.

They considered this a fundamental threat to the EU's strategic security interests and called on the Union and its Member States to respond with joint action. In this regard, they welcomed the joint declaration of 6 January 2026 on Greenland made by several EU Member States, which reaffirms that ‘Greenland belongs to its people’ and recalled that ‘it is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide matters concerning Denmark and Greenland’.

Parliament also expressed its dismay at the December 2025 US National Security Strategy, which formalises a groundless US approach of viewing the EU, including its core values, democratic governance principles and several of its fundamental security objectives, opposed to the US interests.

Members recalled the EU’s commitment to its ‘One China’ policy as one of the principles of EU-China relations. They expressed concern by China’s accelerated militarisation and its assertive posture towards its neighbours.

Addressing deterrence gaps and capability issues

Stressing that the EU has a deterrence gap, Parliament insisted, given the rapidly deteriorating geopolitical context, on the need to replenish depleted stocks, close gaps in critical capabilities, ensure the interoperability of armed forces, increase defence industrial production, create a true European single market for defence products and services, improve interoperability, promote standardization in line with NATO standards, and significantly increase investment in innovation.

Recognising the vital role of NATO and the United States as Europe's main ally, Parliament also highlighted the increasing unpredictability and isolationism of US foreign policy, as well as the risk of troop reductions in Europe. It therefore called for contingency planning by the EU, increased and coordinated defence spending among Member States, strengthened European defence capabilities, and greater strategic autonomy, while maintaining a balanced transatlantic partnership.

Members argued that only cooperation based on jointly agreed rules can safeguard against war and provide common security and called for a renewed European security architecture that strengthens EU cooperation with NATO.

At the same time, Parliament stated that EU Member States must also be ready to act autonomously on the basis of the European Union’s mutual assistance clause, Article 42(7) TEU.

The resolution concluded by stressing that credible EU action requires a permanent command and control headquarters capable of planning, commanding, and conducting missions and operations at the strategic, operational, and tactical levels. It reiterated its call for progress towards a European command and control structure.