EU ministers approve five European defence projects, including boosting security on Eastern Flank
European Union defence ministers approved on September 28 five European Defence Projects of Common Interest (EDPCIs) to strengthen Europe’s defence readiness and industrial capacity, a statement by the Council of the EU said.
The projects will bring European countries together to develop critical capabilities in drones and counter-drone systems, maritime and seabed defence, space, air and missile defence, and the protection of Europe’s eastern flank, the statement said.
EDPCIs were introduced by the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP) adopted by the EU in 2025.
They are collaborative industrial projects designed to contribute to the development of member states’ military capabilities that are critical for the security and defence interests of the EU.
The projects allow EU countries to work together on major defence initiatives that are too large or too complex for individual countries to develop on their own.
The five selected projects are now eligible to receive EU funding through the EDIP. The funding will enable the projects’ initial deployment and lay the foundation for possible further funding via the upcoming European Competitiveness Fund.
The identified EDPCIs are:
Drone and Counter-Drone European Resolve (DECODER). This project will help European countries build, scale up, and deploy drones — and technology to stop enemy drones — to address critical capability gaps across the participating countries.
Integrated Maritime and Seabed Defence (IMSD). This project will create an integrated and interoperable defence system allowing participating countries to identify, deter, and respond to threats at sea and on the seabed.
SPACE will strengthen Europe’s space capabilities in several critical areas. These include early-warning satellites to detect missile launches, satellite communications, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, as well as precise positioning and timing systems. The project will also enhance capabilities for navigation warfare and the rapid launch of replacement satellites when needed.
EU Federated Integrated Air and Missile Defence including Early Warning (EU-FIAMD). This project will provide member states with collective and effective integrated air and missile defence – including early warning of incoming threats and coordinated command systems.
Eastern Flank Watch (EFW) will boost security along the eastern border of the participating countries, covering land, air, sea, cyber, and other domains, with the aim of protecting their entire territory and thereby strengthen their defence readiness.
Bulgaria is participating in two of the first five European defence projects of common interest approved by the EU ministers – for the development of drones and anti-drone systems and for IMSD.
This emerges from the official list of participating countries attached to the decision. The projects were proposed by the European Commission.
Bulgaria is among the 28 participants in the DECODER project together with 26 EU countries, Norway and Ukraine, and among the 17 participants in IMSD, again together with Norway and Ukraine.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, speaking at a news conference after the meeting, said that the ministers had approved also the next phase for strengthening the European Defence Agency (EDA).
This allows EDA to increase joint procurement and focus more on defence innovation, as well as helping EU countries develop capabilities together.
“To stop Russia’s war, we must further reduce Moscow’s capacity to fund it, including through its shadow fleets,” Kallas said.
EU naval operation IRINI has now conducted six boardings of suspected vessels in recent months, making it the lead actor in boarding operations, she said.
“National boarding operations should continue in parallel, and we must coordinate closely. We use the existing legal framework under UNCLOS to inspect and seize vessels.”
Russia’s sustained act of sabotage, arson, and airspace violations persist, Kallas said.
On the EU side, sanctions against perpetrators and the expulsion of Russian diplomats spiked, she said.
“But we need to look into what more can we do.”
Kallas said that the ministers had a first chance to exchange views on the idea of a new emergency security protocol.
Air defence remains the key priority for Ukraine, she said. “We see the attacks every day.”
“We have already approved procurement plans worth of 28.3 billion euro under the Ukraine Support Loan, and these include purchases of Patriot missiles from future US production,” she said.
However, missile production takes time, and Kyiv needs Patriots now, Kallas said.
“One option is for member states and partners to supply missiles from their own stocks to Ukraine in exchange for later replacements financed by Ukraine Support Loan,” she said.
However, replying to a question, Kallas said that no new pledges of interceptors for Ukraine had been made at the meeting.
Asked to comment on the talks in New York between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, from which Lavrov emerged to ridicule his German counterpart, Kallas said: “I think what is interesting or what is important is that there are many countries outside Europe who say that, you know, talk to the Russians and then there will be a result.
“But I mean, these talks show that Russia really is not interested in peace at all. Otherwise, you don’t treat your negotiation partner or the partner of meetings this way,” Kallas said.
“So I think this is also very, very clear for everybody. Now, first and foremost, Russia needs to show by stopping the attacks on civilians that they are interested in peace, which they are not. And then they need to talk to Ukraine because it’s between Ukraine and Russia,” she said.
