ABSTRACT
A number of key decisions and initiatives have been taken since 2016 which create or open EU programmes and funding to the armament industry in order to answer military needs, a move considered a breakthrough as for long it was considered that the EU had no competences on military matters nor could it Fund military-related activities. As a consequence, billions of Euros are to be made available to the armament industry between 2017 and 2027. However such a move does not come out of the blue: a similar political and legislative process happened first in security-related policies, leading to what is considered by civil society as a securitisation and even militarisation of EU external borders management, and more recently of the EU foreign policy. In both cases the over-influence of a growing European military-industrial complex is tangible. In light of all those elements, the EU seems to be engaged in characterising a militarisation process, which is contributing to a serious increase in the military spending in Europe.
