EU Commission Proposes Five New Cross-Border Defence Projects Funded by European Money

The European Commission has proposed five new cross-border defence projects to be funded through European Union resources, as the bloc continues to deepen military cooperation among member states. Among the proposals is a counter-drone initiative backed by 26 EU member states, along with Norway and Ukraine, reflecting growing concern across Europe about the threat posed by unmanned aerial systems on modern battlefields. A second notable project, called Eastern Flank Watch, involves 13 EU member states, Norway, and Ukraine, and is focused on bolstering surveillance and security along NATO's eastern border — the frontier that has become a central strategic concern since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The proposals are part of broader EU efforts to coordinate defence spending and capability development across member states, reducing duplication and strengthening collective security. If approved, the projects would mark a further step in the European Union's push to become a more active player in defence, a role traditionally left to NATO and national governments.