ESC policy work in 2026

Looking ahead to 2026
Building on ongoing work and recent outputs, the Committee will advance a new programme of reports in 2026. The abstracts below outline the planned areas of focus and the key issues guiding the Committee’s work in the year ahead. ↓

Sustaining Increased Defence Spending: Economic Consequences (General Report)
By Bart KROON (The Netherlands)
At the 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague, Allies committed to increase defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035. This decision reflects the current security environment facing the Alliance and is designed to strengthen its deterrence and defence posture. This report will examine the economic impact of defence spending, highlight benefits of investing in defence, explore ways in which private capital can be mobilised to bolster investment, and promote closer cooperation in equipment procurement. The report will seek to provide recommendations on how to ensure the effective and sustainable investment of funds to secure both robust collective defence and economic growth.

Transatlantic Energy Security and Impact on Defence (ESCTER Report)
By Neal Patrick DUNN (United States)
Energy plays a vital role in sustaining Allied societies and economies, making access to energy vital for the economic stability of the Alliance. It is also of crucial importance to national security by enabling armed forces to sustain operations. This report will provide an assessment of energy security challenges facing Allies and NATO. It will also examine diversification efforts of NATO Allies to seek alternative energy providers as well as existing NATO and EU initiatives to strengthen energy security. The report will explore the essential role energy plays in national and collective defence, detail measures to protect energy infrastructure, including lessons learned from Ukraine’s own experience defending against Russian attacks, and present the current and potential future state of the NATO Pipeline System. Legislators will be provided with recommendations on how to strengthen national and collective energy security and resilience.

Critical Raw Materials and Impact on Defence (ESCTD Report)
By Phil BRICKELL (United Kingdom)
The importance of critical minerals to technology manufacturing has made establishing a secure supply of critical raw materials a major priority of national governments in recent years. NATO Allies’ overreliance on foreign suppliers for these key economic inputs poses a security challenge to the Alliance, impacting economic security and the ability to scale up defence production. This report will highlight milestone legislation of NATO Allies working to address supply chain vulnerabilities, examine ways in which Allies can support their domestic mining industries, and explore how critical raw material deposits of Allies and partner countries can strengthen collective resilience and security. This report will provide legislators with recommendations on how to foster closer cooperation and strengthen their countries’ mining and manufacturing industries.

The full reports will be published following their adoption at the Annual Session.

For a deeper understanding of the Committee’s recent policy work, explore the Committee’s 2025 reports below. ↓