A two-year push for a European ‘drone wall’ sits at the heart of the Commission’s new security blueprint.

The European Commission has unveiled “Keeping Peace”, a roadmap to 2030 intended to boost the European Union’s capacity to defend itself. The plan sets out flagship projects ranging from a European drone defence initiative and an Eastern Flank Guard to a European Air Shield and European Space Shield. Member states are invited to opt in; the Netherlands, alongside Croatia and Latvia, is set to lead work on the drone initiative. European Commissioner for Defence Kubilius framed the moment as comparable to D-day, amid a spate of drone incidents that have sharpened urgency.

Beyond the headline “drone wall” within two years, the programme promises stronger air defence, artillery, munitions, drones, anti-drone systems and better-prepared ground forces. It targets at least 40% of defence procurement to be conducted jointly by EU members by the end of 2027, from a level currently well below that. To expand industrial capacity, the Commission expects 200,000 workers to be retrained for defence roles by the end of 2026.

The Commission argues the shift is overdue after years of underfunding and follows the surge in spending triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas said bolstering Europe’s defences against Russia remains vital, warning the threat persists despite the ongoing war. The document also flags that unconventional steps may be required while conflict continues on the continent and cites lessons from the joint COVID-19 vaccine roll-out to justify deeper cooperation.

Brussels’ larger role remains politically sensitive because national governments retain primary responsibility for defence. Questions over the EU–NATO balance are likely to surface again, though NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said collaboration is working well and the plans are aligned. Financing is expected to run into the hundreds of billions of euros, with EU rules allowing governments to take on debt for security without breaching fiscal targets. Leaders will debate the package at next Thursday’s European summit in Brussels.