The first informal retreat of European Union (EU) leaders will take place on February 3, 2025, in Brussels, focusing exclusively on defense strategy amid rising geopolitical tensions. This meeting, initiated by European Council President António Costa, aims to foster an open and frank discussion among the 27 EU leaders regarding the bloc's defense capabilities.
During his opening remarks, Costa emphasized the importance of building on previous discussions, particularly those from the Versailles summit in March 2022, where EU leaders agreed on the need for greater responsibility in defense matters. He outlined three key topics for discussion: the development of cooperative priorities, securing necessary funding, and strengthening current partnerships.
The informal nature of this retreat allows for a strategic dialogue without the pressure of reaching formal conclusions, a departure from typical EU summits. Costa noted the urgency felt among member states to enhance defense spending, particularly in light of ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, as well as shifts in U.S. foreign policy.
Attendees include Portugal's Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, reflecting the EU's commitment to building stronger international partnerships and a more autonomous defense posture. The European Defence Agency reports that EU member states' defense spending increased by over 30% from 2021 to 2024, with projections suggesting a rise to €326 billion in 2024, approximately 1.9% of the EU's GDP.
Looking ahead, real defense expenditures are expected to grow by over €100 billion by 2027. For the 23 EU nations that are also NATO members, defense spending reached 1.99% of their combined GDP in 2024, with expectations of increasing to 2.04% in 2025. The European Commission has indicated that an additional investment of around €500 billion will be necessary over the next decade to meet defense needs.