The European Union's ability to defend itself against a foreign invasion by 2030 is still uncertain, according to a recent report by the European Court of Auditors (ECA). While the EU has improved its military readiness since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, achieving its goal of full defense preparedness by the end of the decade remains challenging. Marek Opioła, an ECA member and lead reviewer of the EU’s defense policy, noted that major obstacles include fragmented national defense systems, industrial bottlenecks, and continued reliance on the United States for military support. In response to the Russian threat and to meet NATO spending targets, EU member states increased their defense budgets by 79% between 2020 and 2025. However, progress has been slow in some areas. For example, the EU only met its goal of providing 1 million rounds of ammunition to Ukraine in November 2024—eight months late. The 2030 defense readiness target was set after intelligence reports suggested that Russia might be preparing for a large-scale conflict in Europe around that time. The ECA emphasized that achieving "strategic autonomy"—the ability to independently conduct high-intensity warfare—requires overcoming significant challenges, including lack of coordination between EU countries and duplicated efforts in defense spending. One example of these challenges is the collapse of a €100 billion joint fighter jet project between France and Germany, which failed due to disputes over leadership and control. The ECA also noted a tension between the EU's "Buy European" policy, which aims to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers, and the urgent need for battlefield equipment. Between February 2022 and June 2023, 78% of EU defense purchases came from outside the bloc, with the United States accounting for 63% of those acquisitions. While this trend is partly due to the need for quick access to military capabilities after Russia's invasion, early signs of improvement in European defense production are emerging, though data remains incomplete. In recent weeks, Ukraine has requested an exemption from the "Buy European" rules to purchase U.S.-made Patriot air-defense systems using an EU loan. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed that Ukraine had asked for funding worth "several billion euros" for air defenses, and the Commission is considering granting a special exception. While the final decision rests with EU member states, the ECA suggested that buying foreign equipment may be acceptable in times of urgent need, as long as there is a plan to develop such capabilities within Europe in the long term.