On September 17, 2009, President Barack Obama announced the U.S. decision to adopt a new approach to ballistic missile defense in Europe. This plan is called the European Phased Adaptive Approach or EPAA. 

  
Phase 2 (2015 timeframe) – After appropriate testing, the US will deploy a more capable version of the SM-3 interceptor (Block IB). A land-based SM-3 ballistic missile defense interceptor site will also be added, which Romania has agreed to host, in order to expand the defended area against short- and medium-range missile threats. Negotiations for a basing agreement are well underway and the United States and Romania announced the joint selection of a site in May 2011.
 
Phase 3 (2018 timeframe) – After development and testing are complete, the US will deploy a more advanced SM-3 interceptor (Block IIA) and add a second land-based SM-3 site, which Poland agreed to host in October 2009, to counter short-, medium-, and intermediate-range missile threats. In July 2010, the United States and Poland signed the Protocol amending the August 2008 Ballistic Missile Defense Agreement to provide the basis for Poland to host the land-based SM-3 site. On April 22, 2011, Polish President Komorowski signed legislation ratifying the Agreement.