On 18 March, the High Representative Josep Borrell presented the second annual report on the implementation of the Strategic Compass, which has guided the EU’s actions in security and defence.

The report highlights significant progress made over the past year. The EU is better prepared to protect its citizens and interests, as well as support its partners worldwide in today’s complex security landscape.

The EU and its Member States have continued to provide crucial support to Ukraine with more than €28 billion of military supplies, including €6.1 billion allocated under the European Peace Facility (EPF). With the recently adopted Ukraine Assistance Fund worth €5 billion, the EU has allocated a total of €11.1 billion for military support under the EPF. Additionally, the EU has already trained over 40,000 Ukrainian soldiers with an additional 20,000 soldiers by this summer.

In parallel, the EU has further consolidated its role as a global security provider by launching new missions and operations: the new naval operation EUNAVFOR ASPIDES to safeguard the freedom of navigation and protect merchant shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf Region, a Security and Defence Initiative to support West African coastal states in the Gulf of Guinea in facing the security spill over from the Sahel region, and a civilian mission in Moldova to support its security sector reform and counter hybrid threats.

The EU continues to advance towards the operationalisation of the Rapid Deployment Capacity. Full operational capability is planned for 2025. The EU’s Military Planning and Conduct Capability has been strengthened with additional personnel, new infrastructure and more secure communication means. The first ever EU military live exercise took place in October 2023, involving 31 units, 25 aircrafts, 6 ships and 2,800 personnel from Member States’ armed forces.

The EU has enhanced its resilience to anticipate and counter threats in the cyber domain, at sea, in space and against critical infrastructure. It also reinforced its capacity to counter disinformation campaigns and foreign interference.

In response to the growing geopolitical challenges, the EU is working with Member States to spend more, better, and together in defence. The new European Defence Industrial Strategy and Programme will further incentivise joint procurement, industrial ramp-up and security of supply, providing a long-term strategy to reinforce our European Defence industry. It will ensure that armed forces are well-equipped for future challenges, while being able to deliver support to key partners in the long run, particularly Ukraine.

The EU has continued to expand its security and defence cooperation with partners worldwide, such as NATO, the US, Canada and Norway and launched new dialogues with countries in Africa, Indo-Pacific and Latin America. The European Peace Facility now provides military assistance to 22 partner countries in Eastern Neighbourhood, Western Balkans, Middle East and Africa.

Read the report to learn more about the implementation of the Strategic Compass.

Background

On 21 March 2022, the EU and Member States collectively agreed to increase our capacity and willingness to act, strengthen our resilience, secure our access to the strategic domains, build solidarity and mutual assistance, invest in much needed capabilities and strengthen our strategic partnerships. The Strategic Compass has more than 80 concrete and time-bound actions that set out a clear and ambitious agenda for our security and defence.

Factsheet: Strategic Compass

Factsheet: Delivering on the Strategic Compass

ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT on the Implementation of the Strategic Compass for Security and Defence