From the ESN’s perspective, the EDIP violates the principle of national sovereignty and leads to further centralisation of defence policy at EU level. The planned increase in national contributions and the obligation to conduct joint procurement — with the goal of achieving at least 40 per cent of military procurement jointly by 2030 — undermine Member States’ freedom of decision and place an additional burden of €1.5 billion on national budgets via the EU budget. While the introduction of a “Buy European” principle, requiring 70 per cent of value creation within the EU, is welcome in principle, it is not sufficient to protect the interests of individual nations.
The ESN Group also criticises the integration of Ukraine into the European defence industry as risky and politically motivated. Rather than further communitisation, the ESN Group calls for a consistent strengthening of national defence industries and a return to a policy of national responsibility.
Markus Buchheit, Member of the European Parliament for the ESN Group, stated:
“The security of Europe is the responsibility of sovereign nation-states, not the Brussels bureaucracy. The EDIP is another step towards a European army, which we firmly reject. We stand for national sovereignty, democratic oversight, and a responsible defence policy to ensure the safety of our citizens.
The ESN Group will continue to advocate for the preservation of sovereignty and the interests of Europe’s nations.”
