Three European Union countries moved against the bloc’s broader defense spending trend in 2025. Czechia, Hungary and Romania reduced their military budgets, according to the European Defence Agency’s annual report.

An EDA map tracking changes between 2024 and 2025 identifies the three states as the only EU members to cut defense expenditure. By contrast, military spending increased by more than 10% in 15 countries, while another nine recorded smaller rises.

EDA Chief Executive André Denk said most EU governments were continuing to expand their defense budgets at an unprecedented pace. If the current trajectory continues, the bloc’s combined expenditure could reach €547 billion by 2029.

EU defense spending had already climbed by 20% in 2025, reaching €418 billion. The agency expects the figure to rise further to €454 billion in 2026.

The expansion began after the conflict in Ukraine and has been accompanied by EU-wide rearmament initiatives. In March 2025, the European Commission unveiled a plan running through 2030 that could mobilize up to €800 billion.

The package includes €150 billion in loans under the SAFE program, along with more flexible budget rules allowing EU governments to increase military expenditure.

At the same time, NATO has set most European allies the goal of raising combined defense and security spending to 5% of gross domestic product by 2035.