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Europe Needs Joint Financing and Procurement to Defend Itself

Philipp Hauber, Tim Hermann, Ulrike Malmendier and Claudia Schaffranka
22 January 2026clock5 Minute Read
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen talks during the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, 20 January, 2026.

Call for unity: President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen talks during the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, 20 January, 2026. Image: Associated Press / Alamy Stock

Despite rising military spending, the European Union’s defence capabilities remain constrained by fragmented procurement, uneven national budgets and weak coordination. Bolstering resilience and reducing dependence on the United States will require mobilising resources at the European level.

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Philipp Hauber

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Tim Hermann

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Ulrike Malmendier

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Claudia Schaffranka

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