10/2025: How should we invest in European defence?
A Franco-German Perspective
On 15 October 2025, the Jacques Delors Centre, in cooperation with the French Embassy in Berlin, hosted a Franco-German panel discussion on the future of European defence investment.
In a world marked by growing instability and upheaval, the need for a stronger European defence has never been more urgent. But how can the necessary investments be mobilised and used effectively to provide a robust and efficient response to today’s security challenges?
The latest Research meets Politics event — jointly organised by the Jacques Delors Centre and the French Embassy in Berlin as part of the Pariser Platz Dialogue series — brought together leading policymakers and researchers to discuss how Europe can mobilise and coordinate the investments needed for a stronger, more autonomous defence.
Opening the debate, François Delattre, Ambassador of France to Germany, set the tone with a stark assessment: “Europe is confronted with an unprecedented accumulation of threats that are here to stay.” He stressed that Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine and the rise of hybrid warfare have made it essential for Europe — and especially for France and Germany — to take greater responsibility for their own security. “A stronger Europe and a stronger Atlantic Alliance are two sides of the same coin,” he said, calling for increased joint investment, closer industrial cooperation, and a clear commitment to “European preference” in defence procurement. France and Germany, he noted, are advancing joint projects such as FCAS and MGCS, exploring a strategic dialogue on nuclear deterrence, and boosting innovation through initiatives comparable to a European DARPA.
Moderated by Monika Sus, Associate Professor at the Polish Academy of Sciences and Research Fellow at the Hertie School’s Centre for International Security, the high-level panel featured Sabine Thillaye, Member of the French National Assembly and Vice-President of the National Defence and Armed Forces Committee; Thomas Röwekamp, Member of the Bundestag and Chairman of the Defence Committee; Grégory Claeys, Director of the Economics Department at the Haut-Commissariat à la Stratégie et au Plan; and Guntram Wolff, Professor of Economics at the Université libre de Bruxelles.
A shift in Europe’s strategic mindset
All participants agreed that the question is no longer whether to invest in defence, but how.
Sabine Thillaye called for Europe to invest “in the defence of Europe” rather than in fragmented national efforts, insisting on the need for interoperability, simplified procedures, and a stronger link between defence institutions and European citizens. Thomas Röwekamp spoke of a “change of mindset” underway in Germany, where security is increasingly seen as a shared civic responsibility. Beyond budgets, he argued, Europe must rebuild its operational capabilities and strengthen its defence industry, while renewing societal support for military service.
From an economic perspective, Grégory Claeys outlined the fiscal trade-offs implied by a sustained increase in defence spending. Meeting NATO targets, he explained, will require a mix of public borrowing, moderate tax adjustments, European-level financing, and structural reforms to boost employment and productivity. Guntram Wolff, meanwhile, warned that Europe’s rearmament must not lead to new dependencies on U.S. technologies. He advocated a pragmatic “European preference” that safeguards technological sovereignty while fostering open, competitive innovation. A stronger European defence industry, he argued, would strengthen both Europe’s security and its position within the transatlantic alliance.
Despite different national perspectives, the debate made clear that Europe’s credibility in defence will depend on its ability to act together — politically, industrially, and financially. Building a stronger European defence is not only a question of spending, but of trust, cooperation, and the will to protect shared values.
Watch the recording of the event below:
This event was organised by the Jacques Delors Centre and the French Embassy in Berlin, as part of the Pariser Platz Dialogue series, bringing together French, German, and European thought leaders to discuss European policy, initiated by Henrik Enderlein and supported by the German Foreign Office.
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