On 3 July 2026, the European Commission proposed five new large-scale joint defence projects, called European Defence Projects of Common Interest (EDPCI), to help EU member states jointly develop military systems.
The Commission states that the projects focus on five priority areas: drones and counter-drone systems, maritime defence and seabed defence, space, air and missile defence, and security along the EU's eastern flank. The projects follow a call by the Commission for member states to submit project proposals. The European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP) regulation was adopted on 16 December 2025. The regulation introduces the EDPCI instrument for cooperative industrial projects, which are also open to Norway and Ukraine, according to the Commission. NDS has previously reported on Norway's accession to EDIP.
Within the framework of the 1.5 billion euro European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP), the Commission has allocated 325 million euros to support the establishment and implementation of the EDPCI projects, according to a work programme published on 30 March 2026.
On average, 18 member states participate in each project. Ukraine participates in four of the five projects. The total financing ambition for the projects amounts, according to the Commission, to approximately 190 billion euros by 2036.
The Council will now consider the formal establishment of the EDPCI projects, including their objectives, characteristics, participating countries, and estimated investments. Once the Council has adopted the list of identified projects, they will become eligible for EU funding through EDIP. The funding is intended to enable the initial implementation of the projects and lay the groundwork for potential further financing through the forthcoming European Competitiveness Fund.
"These new, ambitious and long-term defence projects will serve as central initiatives for strengthening the EU's defence capabilities and our strategic autonomy," says Andrius Kubilius, EU Commissioner for Defence and Space, in a statement from the Commission.