Joint plan sets milestones for industrial capacity, mobility and capability deployment by 2030.

The European Commission and High Representative Josep Borrell have introduced the “Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030”, a joint communication outlining Europe’s strategic objectives to enhance defence readiness and industrial capabilities across the EU by 2030. 

Requested by the European Council in June 2025, the roadmap translates prior White Paper and ReArm Europe/Readiness initiatives into defined timelines, flagship project proposals and performance indicators. It centres on three pillars: building a competitive defence industrial base, enabling rapid production and deployment, and deepening Europe-wide military mobility.

Specific measures include establishing an EU-wide military-mobility network by 2027, harmonised land-air-sea route infrastructure and coordinated procurement frameworks. 

President von der Leyen said: “Only what gets measured gets done. Moving from plans to action, the Roadmap proposes four European Flagships … to strengthen our defence industries and accelerate production.”

The initiative responds to the Russian aggression in Ukraine, growing hybrid threats and a shift in Europe’s perception of strategic dependency. It builds on the EU’s Strategic Compass and Capability Development Plan (CDP).

Member States are asked to present capability-coalitions by end-2025 and launch joint projects in the first half of 2026 under the roadmap’s guidance.