Defense, EU and Ukraine strengthen industrial cooperation: new agreement signed at Brussels Forum.

The European Union and Ukraine are strengthening their alliance in the defense sector. At the center of the second EU-Ukraine Defense Industry Forum, held today in Brussels, was a clear objective: to reinforce integration and cooperation between European and Ukrainian defense industries in response to Kyiv’s wartime needs and the broader deterrence strategy against future threats.

The event brought together over 500 defense sector representatives from across the EU and Ukraine. Topics discussed included joint procurement, technology transfer, and support for the production of weapons and defense systems on Ukrainian soil. The message was clear: a strong defense industrial base is crucial to ensure Ukraine’s resilience and long-term security in Europe.

On the sidelines of the Forum, the work of the new EU-Ukraine Joint Task Force for Defense Industrial Cooperation was launched. This strategic platform is designed to identify joint projects, stimulate coordinated production, and promote European investments in Ukraine’s industrial sector.

A further step forward was the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Ukraine and ASD – the AeroSpace and Defence Industries Association of Europe – aimed at strengthening industrial and technical coordination between the two blocs. The agreement seeks to facilitate Ukrainian companies’ access to European production networks and to foster long-term partnerships between companies and consortia on both sides.

The initiatives announced during the Forum aim to attract more EU investment into the Ukrainian defense sector, accelerate interoperability between their respective industries, and enhance local production capacities, in line with the strategic goal of ensuring Ukraine’s autonomy and resilience in the long term.

The Forum confirmed the shared commitment to transforming the defense industry into a pillar of strategic cooperation between Kyiv and Brussels, supporting both immediate defense efforts and the post-war industrial reconstruction of the country.

photo Christophe Licoppe, European Union, 2022 Copyright Source: EC – Audiovisual Service