EU nations oppose French proposal for preferential defense procurement

Twelve European nations have issued a non-paper opposing France's proposal to prioritize EU-based providers within the European Competitiveness Fund (ECF). The group, which includes Germany, Austria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, and Slovenia, advocates for keeping future EU defense programs open to military allies outside the Union.

The signatories argue that allowing participation from third countries sends a vital signal to non-EU partners and enhances defense readiness through improved interoperability and standardization. They also suggest that the EU should maintain the automatic participation of Ukraine and EEA countries in the defense industry sector, even without formal association agreements.

These discussions occur as European capitals prepare for intense negotiations regarding the 2028–2034 EU budget. The proposed budget includes approximately 2 trillion euros, with 409 billion euros allocated to the ECF, including 175 billion euros for research and innovation.