A blueprint for a European Defence Union - by Reinier van Lanschot
Europe's defence problem is not mass or money: it is the absence of a political center of gravity.
News
Monthly September 2026: Your update from the Co-Presidents!
Volt Europa Board Update August 2027
Welcome to the latest Volt Europa update! This edition covers our recent political actions and key campaign milestones, including the launch of the "We are the 1 Million" campaign, our presence at international policy forums, and local government successes in Frankfurt and Wiesbaden. Explore our responses to critical European developments, events like the State of the European Union live stream and the Right to Housing launch, plus recommended reading and press highlights.
SOTEU: Geopolitical or regulatory power? National governments decide, Europe pays the price.
The SOTEU will not feature a deeper integrated and geopolitically relevant Europe as answer to nationalism – The Commission not being political in Iceland and considering skipping Mark Carney’s speech shows the lack of European political leadership and opportunism – Member states shooting down a “Draghi plan for Defence” shows national parties are holding Europe back.
Sign the ECI: Make Affordable Housing a Right in the EU Now!
Across Europe, affordable housing is in crisis. Volt Europa and House Europe are uniting with civil society groups to lead a European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) to make safe, affordable housing a recognised right for everyone in the EU. Sign now!
Saxony-Anhalt: National politics cannot deliver in a Union – it's isolation or EU integration
Election results in Saxony-Anhalt show citizens no longer accept the status quo - The AfD wants to isolate Germany and dismantle the European Union - Volt wants to integrate towards a federal European Union - No single national government can deliver the solutions citizens demand - We need truly European parties and European political leadership.
When dependencies are weaponized - where is Europe’s response to the ICC sanctions?
The United States has once again imposed sanctions on senior representatives of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Ceuta Exposes the EU's Broken Approach to Migration
The loss of human lives at the Ceuta border and the terrifying mistrust between Europeans and Maghrebis are a reminder that we must defend Europe’s borders together.
The EU in a New World Order
Through the great attractors of enlargement, high standards of living, human rights, democracy, and the rule of law, Europe has built a model that others seek to join, emulate, or undermine precisely because it works. While Russia, China, and an increasingly transactional United States pursue their interests as a value in themselves, Europe should recognise that its values are its interests and act accordingly.
Monthly Board Update
Welcome to our European Board monthly 💜 a regular summary of what is happening at the first true European party. This month with our first Board retreat and strategy, upcoming elections and interviews and a peek into the work of our Parliamentarians.
Volt Europa Rallies Players to Fight Sony’s 2028 Physical Phase-Out
Never before have we heard so many references to the European Union in gaming podcasts as we have over the last two weeks.
Srebrenica, 11th of July: A Lesson from Memory for Coexistence
In Srebrenica, the European community failed. We failed to protect peace and human dignity, a failure that reminds us of the devastating consequences of inaction. This anniversary calls for deep reflection, affirming that Europe stands for peace, justice, and coexistence.
A “stronger Europe” can only mean a Defence Union
If recent NATO summits have demonstrated one truth, it is this: talking about a “stronger Europe” used to be cheap, but since the Russian invasion of Ukraine and labyrinthine back-and-forths of the USA, EU Member States have found themselves in an uncomfortable reality that forces them to back up their words.
NATO 3.0 can only be built with a European Defence Union
Since last year, non-US allies have increased their defence spending by 139 billion USD. Several will reach their 3,5% targets ahead of schedule, but as the Secretary General of NATO said on June 25: ‘’Russia is not afraid of commitments, but of capabilities’’. .
Free speech for me, but not for thee?
Time for the EU to act in the defence of free press.
Fertiliser vulnerability in the European Union
The Strait of Hormuz blockade exposes the EU's critical dependency on fertiliser imports. Volt calls on the Commission to achieve strategic autonomy by phasing out Russian imports, scaling biofertilisers, and reviving circular nutrient plans.
One Fighter, Three Names, Zero Results
The FCAS failure highlights Europe's need for a single authority to overcome national interests and avoid foreign jet dependence.
Statement on export controls for Anthropic Fable 5
The Anthropic debacle highlights the danger of foreign-reliant tech and the urgent need for a sovereign, open, European digital infrastructure.
Volt believes Britain's future is at the heart of Europe and Volt UK is there to provide a Bridge to Europe.
Ten years ago, Britain was promised the world. It has had seven prime ministers and a shrinking economy. The UK will soon have a new PM. Volt strongly encourages whoever takes the keys to Number 10 to take this opportunity to bring the UK back to where it should be: at the very heart of Europe, not on the margins.
New leadership of Volt Europa dares governments to initiate treaty changes.
Bratislava 18.06.2026- Members and country leaders of Volt Europa adopted the “Bratislava Declaration” to conclude its General Assembly. Inês Bravo Figueiredo and Sven Franck were elected as new Volt Europa co-presidents. They announce a European political platform and demand heads of government to reform EU treaties. This Friday at 12:30 Volt MEP Anna Strolenberg and other pro-European organisations will protest in front of the European Council Summit to demand national leaders abolish the veto
Volt Europa Bratislava Declaration
The following declaration was approved by the Volt Europa members in the June 13/14 2026 General Assembly in Bratislava.
New Volt Europa Board Elected
Volt Europa Elects New Leadership Team to Shape the Future of the Pan-European Movement
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