European Union defence ministers have agreed to add €5 billion to a joint procurement plan aimed at strengthening the bloc’s defence-industrial base. The decision comes as European leaders prepare for next month’s NATO summit in The Hague, where defence spending and coordination are expected to dominate the agenda.

The move is designed to encourage member states to buy military equipment together rather than separately, a step officials say could improve supply chains, reduce duplication, and support European manufacturers. It also reflects growing pressure on EU governments to build more resilient defence capacity amid a more volatile security environment.

The agreement follows months of debate over how quickly Europe should expand production and spending in response to war in Ukraine and wider concerns about deterrence. While the new funding does not settle all questions about long-term procurement policy, it signals a stronger political push for collective purchasing before NATO leaders gather in the Netherlands.

For the EU, the timing is significant. By arriving ahead of the summit, ministers are sending a message that Europe wants to show unity on defence planning while also bolstering its own industrial base. The challenge now will be turning the pledge into contracts, production, and faster delivery of equipment.