This report examines how the European Union addresses additive manufacturing within the broader context of intensifying strategic competition. Although additive manufacturing is identified by the European Commission as a critical technology for the EU's economic security, the Union's policy response remains uneven. Proactive EU initiatives to promote competitiveness have seen little increase in neither funding or ambition. Funding levels for additive manufacturing have remained stable over the past decade, with a modest recent shift toward defence-oriented projects. Policy recommendations from the appointed task force on advanced manufacturing have seen limited follow-up, indicating a lack of political momentum. In contrast, the EU has taken more decisive steps to protect its technological base. Measures include foreign direct investment screening, tighter export controls, selective exclusion of third-country entities from sensitive research and innovation (R&I) projects, and additive manufacturing-related standardization efforts. International partnerships have played a smaller role. While the EU-US Trade and Technology Council briefly advanced cooperation on additive manufacturing standards, this momentum has waned with the new US administration. Overall, the EU's recent actions show progress in defensive measures to protect additive manufacturing, but far fewer proactive policies to enhance competitiveness. This gap highlights a divergence between strategic rhetoric and concrete policy implementation.