How the UK and the EU can deepen defence co-operation
Think tank: Centre for European Reform
Author(s): Luigi Scazzieri
March 7, 2025
This report from UK think tank the Centre for European Reform assesses the state of UK-EU defence co-operation.
The UK and the EU face daunting common security challenges. However, EU-UK defence co-operation remains limited and the UK’s defence relationship with the EU is shallower than that of many other non-EU partners.
Labour’s idea of a security pact with the EU has become mired in the broader discussions over the EU-UK reset. The current lack of co-operation is a challenge. While most defence co-operation in Europe happens bilaterally, in NATO and in small groups, the EU’s role is also growing, with funds to foster joint defence research and procurement, and to expand industrial production.
A new CER paper ‘How the UK and the EU can deepen defence co-operation?’ by Luigi Scazzieri assesses the state of UK-EU defence co-operation, comparing it to the EU’s relationships with other key allies like Norway and Canada. One challenge is that the EU’s defence toolbox only allows for limited involvement by non-EU countries, except for Norway, which is formally associated to EU defence tools.
