02.10.2025 The EU leaders met for a one-day summit to discuss how to strengthen Europe’s common defence and support for Ukraine. The meeting today had one core theme: safeguarding the security of Europe.
The leaders will return to both topics at the next European Council meeting on 23-24 October 2025.
The meeting was chaired by the President of the European Council, António Costa, and hosted by the Prime Minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen. It took place before the meeting of the European Political Community.

The #EPC is the demonstration of a shared political will.

Those who are in the European Union, those who are not, those who wish to join, and even those who have left – together, we form Europe.

And together, we want to work for peace, development, and the prosperity of our… pic.twitter.com/5O1Dzd3rs3

— António Costa (@eucopresident) October 2, 2025

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Faced with a radically changed security situation in Europe, EU leaders discussed how to strengthen our common defence, including issues relating to defence capacities, support for the Eastern flank and governance.

Our goal remains a strong and free Ukraine.

Russia needs to know that the EU and its partners have the will and the means to continue supporting Ukraine until a just and lasting peace is achieved.

Soon, we will launch a new programme to give Ukraine the tech edge it needs on… pic.twitter.com/N4aaCr1Bec

— António Costa (@eucopresident) October 2, 2025

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“In view of Russia’s violations of the airspace in several countries, including Denmark, Poland and Estonia, President Costa underlined the need to build the Europe of defence” president Costa said. “We are committed to face common threats, on all fronts, whether conventional, hybrid or cyber, with a common purpose”.

In that context, the EU is committed to building up its defence and ramping up its defence readiness by 2030. In recent months, the EU has taken decisive action to achieve that goal, including through the SAFE instrument which mobilises up to €150 billion in loans and other means to channel joint investments that benefit Europe’s security as a whole.

In Copenhagen, EU leaders also discussed progress on the nine priority areas in the field of defence that they had identified in March 2025, specifically air and missile defence, artillery, drones and anti-drone systems, military mobility and cyber resilience. In that regard, President Costa stated that the leaders broadly supported priority flagships presented by the Commission and the High Representative, including the European Drone Wall and the Eastern Flank Watch.

In terms of governance and political oversight, President Costa highlighted the need for increased coordination to keep track of progress. In that regard, he stressed that defence ministers need to play a greater role in terms of pushing work forward between European Council meetings and tracking milestones.