00:0090% of everything the EU trades with the world moves by sea, so does its energy and its internet
00:07data running through cables on the seabed.
00:10External threats like those from Russia to cut these cables and routes force the EU to build its maritime defence.
00:17The EU seas are under growing pressure with hybrid and cyber attacks on ports and undersea cables,
00:23rising tensions along Europe's maritime borders and growing threats to critical offshore infrastructure.
00:28In response, the EU updated its maritime security strategy in March 2023, built around one goal.
00:36Control what happens at sea, above it and beneath it.
00:40And the money behind it is growing fast.
00:42In 2024, EU states spent 343 billion euros on defence, up to 19% in a year.
00:49Defence investment reached 106 billion euros, equipment procurement jumped at 39%,
00:55and 2025 broke every record with total spending, hitting 392 billion euros.
01:01Much of that is flowing by the EU's Readiness 2030 roadmap, backed by a 150 billion EU fund called SAFE,
01:09designed to help member states buy hardware collectively.
01:12On the water, that means ships.
01:15Lots of them.
01:15In 2025 alone, the EU's maritime defence industry produced 13.5 billion euros worth of vessels,
01:2365% surface ships, 27% submarines.
01:27Just four countries built nearly all of it, France, Germany, Italy and Spain,
01:31together accounting for 82% of total output.
01:35Behind those numbers, Naval Group, Fincantieri, Tyson Group Marine Systems, Navatia,
01:40Europe's biggest shipbuilders, now working more closely together than ever before.
01:45That cooperation is called the European Patrol Covret project.
01:49France, Italy, Spain and Greece are building the next generation of naval vessels backed by EU funding.
01:56That shipbuilding power reaches well beyond EU borders.
01:59In 2025 alone, Germany signed submarine deals with Norway worth more than 8.5 billion,
02:06while France sealed a 2 billion submarine contract with Indonesia.
02:09At sea, EU missions like Atalanta and Irini already patrol from the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean.
02:16Now Brussels wants a stronger presence, not a single EU navy, but a coordinated one.
02:21The message from the EU is simple.
02:23Whoever controls the seas controls energy, trade and data.
02:27Something the EU wants and needs.
02:30For the full story, read our In-Depth Explainer on euronews.com.
