Abstract. The article focuses on defence planning in the West, with a special emphasis on trends in defence planning in the European Union. The author provides general model of defence planning in Western states, highlights its key stages, and analyses main relevant concepts and terms. Special attention is paid to crucial aspects of the EU defence planning at the subnational level for the period from 1998 to 2018. The article reviews new EU doctrinal documents and reveals major trends in its defence planning. It also explores prospects for European Defence Fund that could contribute to further integration of the EU military-industrial complex.