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EU Observer (23 March 2026)

Francesca GRANDI and Juhani GROSSMAN

Europe is about to spend billions of euros on defence. But what happens if citizens later discover that part of that money was lost to corruption, problematic procurement chains, or poorly supervised contracts?

At a moment when defence spending is rising rapidly, governance and integrity will determine whether Europe’s rearmament strengthens public trust – or erodes it.

Through instruments such as Security Action for Europe (SAFE), the European Defence Industry Reinforcement through Common Procurement Act (EDIRPA) and the European Defence Fund, Brussels is taking a central role in financing Europe’s defence.

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