Fragmented, non-coordinated defence spending by EU member states costs around EUR 18-57 billion per year.

Omissions

• The €18-57 billion figure is a modelled 'cost of non-Europe' estimate (a range reflecting low and high scenarios of potential efficiency gains), not an observed or audited annual expenditure loss; the same EPRS study's summary PDF states the range as €17 to €58 billion per year.
• The MEP presents the estimate as a fact without attributing it to the EPRS Cost of Non-Europe report (PE 762.855, December 2024) from which it derives.
• All corroborating sources found are EPRS material or republications of the same EPRS estimate (EP Think Tank page, EP Think Tank blog post of 6 January 2025, Council Library guide, Policy Commons record), so the figure is not independently corroborated by a second, differently-sourced dataset.
• The figure refers to the potential efficiency gains from EU-level coordination/economies of scale, which is a different concept from actual money currently 'wasted' each year by Member States.

Sources

• PrimaryEuropean Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS) — 'Improving the quality of European defence spending: Cost of non-Europe report' (PE 762.855)The cost of non-Europe in defence spending is estimated to range from €18 to €57 billion per year. EU action to boost the efficiency and quality of European defence spending...
• PrimaryEPRS study summary — 'Improving the quality of European defence spending' (PE 762.855, SUM01)The cost of non-Europe in defence spending is estimated to range from €17 to €58 billion per year. EU action to boost the efficiency and quality of European defence...
• SecondaryEP Think Tank (European Parliament) — 'Improving the quality of European defence spending – Cost of non-Europe report'The cost of non-Europe in defence spending is estimated to range from €17 to €58 billion per year. European economies of scale...
• SecondaryCouncil of the EU Library — 'The Europe of Defence: EU publications'The cost of non-Europe in defence spending is estimated to range from €18 to €57 billion per year. EU action to boost the efficiency and quality...