This Task Force was announced in the White Paper for European Defence Readiness 2030 and aims to foster Ukraine’s integration into the EU defence innovation ecosystem. Representatives from Ukraine’s Ministries of Strategic Industries, Defence, and Foreign Affairs participated, alongside officials from the Office of the President and Ukraine’s Mission to the EU. The European External Action Service, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space (DG DEFIS), and the European Defence Agency (EDA) also attended.
Discussions centred on defining the Task Force’s scope and priorities, addressing cooperation needs both in the short and long term, and exploring opportunities for joint collaboration. Key objectives include enhancing industrial cooperation and integration between the EU and Ukraine, facilitating structured exchanges on production capacities and operational challenges, and drawing lessons from high-intensity warfare.
The meeting also addressed supporting Ukraine’s full participation in EU defence programmes, particularly those focusing on industrial reinforcement actions and common procurement. This is expected to contribute to integrating the Ukrainian defence industry into the European Defence Technology Industrial Base (EDTIB), thus strengthening European defence capabilities and strategic autonomy.
Looking ahead, the Task Force will work on identifying concrete collaboration opportunities in priority capability areas. This will include promoting industrial reinforcement actions and fostering common EU–Ukraine defence procurement.
