Where the law stands, Dossier 2025/2119(INI)
EU strategic defence and security partnerships
Own-initiative report (INI): Parliament’s own position on a topic. It is not binding. · First reading
Parliament sets out its own position on a topic. The resolution is not binding but signals what Parliament wants.
Where it stands
Parliament’s position
Parliament adopted the text on 11 February 2026. This is its final position on the matter.
- Referred to committee(done) 19 June 2025
- Committee work(done) Report adopted 15 January 2026
- Tabled for plenary(done) 28 January 2026
- Plenary vote(done) Adopted 11 February 2026
- Parliament’s position(done) Final
Decided in plenary
11 February 2026 · decision 10
Defence & security, Resolution
EU strategic defence and security partnerships
Adopted 440 for · 119 against · 85 abstained by a large majority
AI summary:The text stresses that such partnerships are essential for the EU to become more sovereign and responsible for its own defence, while remaining complementary with NATO.
What changed
Latest Tabled for plenary → Adopted by Parliament
AI summary:The only substantive change adds India to the list of countries with signed SDPs and removes a separate sentence on India.
Committee draft → Tabled for plenary
AI summary:The report expands on threats, adding Russian aggression, hybrid threats, and migration as security risks, and stresses SDPs' role in strategic autonomy. It strengthens language on NATO partnership, Ukraine support, and regional partnerships, including Indo-Pacific and Black Sea. It adds parliamentary diplomacy measures, including reports to Parliament and cooperation with Ukraine's Rada. The other changes are formal or wording: updated citations, rephrased explanatory statements, and a declaration of input.
Who works on it
- Lead committee
- Security and Defence
- The MEP who drafts the report and negotiates it on behalf of the committee.
- Michał Szczerba (EPP)
- An MEP who follows a report on behalf of their own group when another group holds the rapporteur.
- Tonino Picula (S&D), Nikola Bartůšek (Patriots), Elena Donazzan (ECR), Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (Renew), Ville Niinistö (Greens), Marc Botenga (The Left), Hans Neuhoff (ESN)
The text, version by version
Newest first.
Adopted by Parliament· 11 Feb 2026
AI summary:This resolution addresses EU strategic defence and security partnerships (SDPs), stressing their necessity for the EU's security and strategic autonomy. It calls for deepening partnerships with NATO, Ukraine, the US, and other like-minded countries, and for strengthening cooperation in areas like defence industry, cybersecurity, and maritime security.
Tabled for plenary· 28 Jan 2026
AI summary:The report addresses EU strategic defence and security partnerships (SDPs), stressing their necessity for EU security and strategic autonomy, and calls for stronger cooperation with NATO, Ukraine, the US and other like-minded partners.
Committee draft· 15 Oct 2025
AI summary:This draft report on EU strategic defence and security partnerships stresses their necessity, prioritises NATO and key partners, and calls for new partnerships and deeper cooperation in defence industry, maritime security, cyber defence, and support for Ukraine.
Timeline
Newest first.
Plenary stage 3 steps
11 February 2026
Plenary vote
Sitting of 11 Feb 2026 Report A10-0005/2026Adopted text TA10-0040/2026
5 February 2026
1 amendment tabled for the plenary vote
Groups propose changes to the tabled text; each is voted on before the final vote.
28 January 2026
Report tabled for plenary
This is the text all MEPs vote on. Political groups can still table amendments to it.
Committee stage 4 steps
15 January 2026
Committee vote: report adopted
SEDE (Security and Defence) voted on the amendments and adopted the report that goes to plenary.
13 November 2025
Amendments tabled in committee
Members of SEDE (Security and Defence) proposed changes to the draft.
15 October 2025
Draft report published
The rapporteur’s first text in SEDE (Security and Defence). Members can table amendments before the committee votes.
19 June 2025
Referred to the SEDE (Security and Defence) committee
The lead committee prepares Parliament’s report.
Official record: Legislative Observatory, 2025/2119(INI)