The intention is to jointly develop European military abilities and to make them available for operations separately or in coordination with NATO. The effort also aims to reduce the fragmentation of European military spending and to promote more joint projects to reduce duplication and waste.

At a signing ceremony in Brussels, the European foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, called the deal a "historic moment in European defense."

Jean-Yves Le Drian, the French foreign minister and a former defense minister, said the agreement was "a commitment for countries to do better together," noting that it "comes at a time of significant tension" in Europe stemming from a more aggressive Russia after the annexation of Crimea, and from terrorist attacks by Islamist militants.