Brussels, 24 April 2025
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Measures to speed up the integration of EU defence industries
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Greater financial support to boost the supply of military capabilities
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Ukraine support instrument
On Thursday, MEPs backed a draft law designed to strengthen Europe’s defence industry, ramp up defence product manufacturing and provide more support for Ukraine.
The Committees on Industry, Research and Energy and Security and Defence have adopted their position on the proposed creation of a European defence industry programme (EDIP). More specifically, MEPs backed measures to boost the European defence technological and industrial base (EDTIB), to strengthen EU defence and further integrate the EU defence industry. These measures include a significant increase in member states’ financial contributions to the EDIP, more aggregation of orders for the development of defence products, and enhanced use of joint procurement.
MEPs want the new programme to focus on improving the supply of weapons, ammunition and other crisis-relevant products, boosting manufacturing capacities or ensuring their ramp-up, reducing lead times for production and delivery, and increasing stockpiling.
Other principles agreed by MEPs to strengthen Europe’s defence capacity include the following:
- Introducing a “buy European” principle by which the EDIP should only fund products where the cost of components originating in the EU or associated countries represents at least the 70% of the estimated end product value.
- To be eligible for funds, European defence projects of common interest should involve at least six member states, or at least four that are facing high exposure to the risk of conventional military threats; MEPs want also Ukraine to participate.
- A European ‘military sales mechanism’ would work as a centralised catalogue of defence products and services to bolster EU-wide demand.
- A new, voluntary, Structure for European Armament Programme would scale up member states’ cooperation throughout the defence equipment lifecycle.
- An EU security of supply regime should gradually guarantee continuous access to essential defence products to tackle future supply crises; the regime would be managed by a Defence Industrial Readiness Board.
Military support for Ukraine
As part of the new EDIP regulation, MEPs also backed a Ukraine Support Instrument (USI) to ensure the Ukrainian defence industry’s modernisation and integration within the EDTIB. This EU funding would scale up direct investment in Ukraine’s defence industry, facilitate partnerships between EU and Ukrainian defence actors and increase EU procurement of defence capacities produced in Ukraine, including for Ukraine itself.
Quotes
“Our position on the EDIP sends a strong message to the Council to finalise its own position in order to start interinstitutional negotiations. The European Parliament will insist on establishing a strong regulation that will incentivise EU member states to boost joint procurement in order to build common European defence capabilities – stronger, strategic, efficient and united,” said Marie‑Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (Renew Europe, Germany), Chair of the Committee on Security and Defence.
“Today, Parliament has come together with an unprecedented sense of urgency and purpose. In record time, we’ve forged a broad and determined majority in support of strengthening Europe’s defence industrial base – because this is no longer just an option, it’s a strategic imperative. Europe stands at a historic crossroads. Faced with Russia’s threats, we must act with unity, ambition and resolve. Investing together, developing critical military capabilities jointly, and aligning our spending efforts at EU level is the only way forward. It’s time to end our dependence on external actors. A sovereign Europe is a stronger and safer Europe, and this vote on the EDIP is a clear step in that direction”, said Raphaël Glucksmann (S&D, France), co-rapporteur from the Committee on Security and Defence.
“The adoption of the EDIP report by a large majority today marks a major step for the security of the European continent and the strengthening of our defence industry. With this vote, the European Parliament is setting the bar high for the EU to enhance the sovereignty and resilience of our countries, build an effective governance framework, and design an ambitious and realistic financing solution. Our committees’ work in accelerated procedure means Parliament is ready to tackle the upcoming trilogue stage as soon as the Council has determined its position. This outcome, both in substance and pace, seemed impossible to achieve just a few weeks ago; with this important step, we have shown that our institution is rising to the challenge on this crucial issue for the future of Europe”, said François-Xavier Bellamy (EPP, France), co-rapporteur from the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy.
Next steps
The report was adopted by 70 votes to 46 with 8 abstentions. MEPs also decided to open negotiations with the Council to finalise the law, with 90 votes in favour, 20 against and with 5 abstentions. Parliament as a whole will be notified of this decision during the May plenary session.
Background
The European Commission put forward a proposal for a European defence industry programme (EDIP) regulation on 5 March 2024. The EDIP – with a proposed budget of €1.5 billion – seeks to achieve defence industrial readiness by bridging the gap between short-term emergency measures, such as the Act in Support of Ammunition Production (ASAP) and the European Defence Industry Reinforcement through Common Procurement Act (EDIRPA), that have been implemented since 2023 and will end in 2025, and a more structural, long-term approach.
The EDTIB comprises a number of large multinational companies, mid-caps and over 2,000 small and medium-sized enterprises, with an estimated combined annual turnover of €70 billion.
Statements der EU-Abgeordenten Michael Gahler und Gernot Ehler (CDU) zu EDIP
Heute haben sich der Ausschuss für Sicherheit und Verteidigung sowie der Ausschuss für Industrie, Forschung und Energie (ITRE) zum Programm für die europäische Verteidigungsindustrie (EDIP – European Defence Industry Programme) positioniert. Dazu erklären:
Michael Gahler (CDU), außenpolitischer Sprecher und Berichterstatter der EVP-Fraktion im Sicherheits- und Verteidigungsausschuss:
“Die Bedrohung durch Russland, aber auch die zunehmend fragwürdige Rolle der USA fordert uns Europäer gemeinsam mehr Verantwortung für unsere Verteidigung zu übernehmen. Dafür haben wir heute entscheidende Weichen gestellt. Das Programm für die europäische Verteidigungsindustrie soll die Produktionskapazitäten unserer Industrie stärken und durch Förderung vertiefter und langfristiger Verteidigungskooperation der Mitgliedstaaten europäische Fähigkeiten verbessern. EDIP wird einen effektiveren Einsatz europäischer Steuergelder ermöglichen und auch die Versorgungssicherheit im Verteidigungsbereich verbessern. Darüber hinaus wird mit dem Programm die Unterstützung der Ukraine, unsere erste Verteidigungslinie gegen Putins Russland, weiter vertieft und durch eine engere Anbindung der ukrainischen Verteidigungsindustrie deren Erfahrungen und Potenzial auch für Europa nutzbar gemacht.
Als EVP-Fraktion konnten wir im Europaparlament wichtige Akzente, wie die Stärkung der EU-Ostflanke und die Möglichkeit beschleunigter Beschaffungen verankern. In den sich hoffentlich zeitnah anschließenden Verhandlungen mit dem Ministerrat wird es darauf ankommen, dass Erreichte zu bewahren und eine ausreichende Finanzierung für das Vorhaben sicherzustellen, damit EDIP sein volles Potenzial entfalten kann und einen echten Mehrwert für die Verteidigungsbereitschaft schafft. Deshalb fordern wir die bisher vorgesehenen 1,5 Milliarden Euro um 20 Milliarden Euro aufzustocken.”
Christian Ehler (CDU), industriepolitischer Sprecher der EVP-Fraktion:
“Die heutige Verabschiedung von EDIP im Europäischen Parlament zeigt einmal mehr, dass Europa seine Verteidigung ernst nimmt. Über Jahrzehnte haben wir uns die „Friedensdividende“ ausgezahlt und unsere verteidigungsindustrielle Basis vollkommen vernachlässigt. EDIP ist ein wichtiger erster Schritt zur schnellen Verstärkung unserer Verteidigungsfähigkeit. Im neuen Mehrjährigen Finanzrahmen (2028-2034) müssen weitere Mittel bereitgestellt werden, um die europäische Verteidigungsindustrie auch strukturell sicher aufzustellen und die für Investitionen nötige Planungssicherheit herzustellen. Mitgliedsstaaten und EU werden Hand in Hand arbeiten müssen, um mittelfristig wieder eine breite und verlässliche verteidigungsindustrielle Basis in der EU aufzubauen.”
Quelle – CDU/CSU-Gruppe im EU-Parlament
S&D Group: A reinforced EDIP as backbone for European autonomy and common defence
Today, S&D MEPs in the committee on security and defence (SEDE) and the committee on industry, research and energy (ITRE) will vote in favour of the European Defence Industrial Programme (EDIP) report. Through their recent work on the EDIP, the S&Ds are ensuring it will serve as a backbone for common European defence and strategic autonomy, securing the budget needed for meaningful impact while protecting the EU as a peace project.
The EDIP will represent a quality step up in defence investment, empowering European industries to independently and sufficiently supply our defence, and promoting joint procurement and maintenance by member states. This maximises the impact of every euro invested in defence, creates quality jobs, boosts competitiveness, and advances Ukraine’s integration into the EU’s defence industrial base.
Yannis Maniatis, S&D vice-president for foreign affairs, security and defence, international energy security and cooperation, and negotiator on the file in ITRE, said:
“As our relationship with the United States is changing rapidly while Russia’s war on Ukraine rages on and hybrid threats to European countries are on the rise, the EU must be prepared to ensure the safety of its citizens, democracies and economies on its own. This means we must strengthen our defence capabilities.
“The EU remains a peace project, and the EDIP is key for our strategic autonomy in defence to be able to protect that peace project. It serves as a cornerstone for EU preparedness, empowering Europe’s defence industries, including supporting small and medium enterprises to meet defence needs and reduce dependencies on third countries. This will create well-paid jobs across the continent.
“With strategic coordination at EU level, as we also did for Covid-19 vaccine production, we can avoid the fragmentation of national defence policies and optimise the use of public funds through joint procurement. By spending together, we will spend efficiently.”
Raphaël Glucksmann, S&D MEP and rapporteur on the file in SEDE, added:
“In the face of Putin’s illegal aggression against Ukraine and growing threats to Europe, I have been working on the EDIP regulation to establish a long-term European defence framework. This will ensure we can deter threats and safeguard our collective security. By earmarking EU funds for European companies, the EDIP strengthens local production, guarantees control over our defence equipment and paves the way to European autonomy.
“The framework will ensure that Europe’s security comes first by prioritising European defence needs in times of crisis. The EDIP is a crucial step towards a truly common European defence, but we still need more common EU funds to stand on our own.
“Through the EDIP, EU countries will also support Ukraine more effectively, integrating it further into the European defence industry. This will involve adopting the ‘Danish model’, where EU countries jointly buy defence products from Ukrainian companies to support Ukraine’s forces. It will also empower the European Commission to act as a central purchasing body on behalf of Ukraine. But there too, more money is needed. As S&Ds, we’re clear: more European funds for a more European defence!”
Source – S&D Group
Strengthening Europe’s Security: Renew Europe Champions Adoption of Defence Industry Programme
Renew Europe welcomes the adoption of the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP) by the Committees on Industry, Research & Energy (ITRE) and on Security & Defence (SEDE). It demonstrates that the European Parliament takes seriously the imperative of ensuring European’s Security, by strengthening the industrial base of European defence.
The inclusion into the regulation of a dedicated instrument to support the recovery, reconstruction and modernization of Ukraine’s Defence Technological Industrial Base was an absolute necessity. We welcome this instrument that will progressively integrate Ukraine into the European defence market.
EDIP represents a major step forward for a more competitive, autonomous, and resilient European defence industry. By introducing targeted measures, the programme will help to develop the Defence Industry in a coordinated manner and reduce its fragmentation.
We now urge the Council to act swiftly and adopt its position to ensure a final agreement and on EDIP as soon as possible.
Renew has played a determining role by proposing an approach that was both realistic and ambitious:
- Adoption of a more pragmatic ratio for components (70% EU/30% non-EU)
- A stronger support for SMEs, thanks to a better financial leverage system
- A particular attention to the most threatened Member States, in particular those located on the border with Russia, via stockpiling mechanisms
- Introduction of the Enhanced Design Authority concept. The companies awarded will own a full authority on the definition, adaptation, integration and evolution – based on ownership of intellectual property – of the manufactured product.
- Proposal of a creative solution for supply crises through Article 42.7 (mutual defence clause)
- Protection of commercial interests by limiting the Commission’s access to sensitive information
Nathalie Loiseau (Horizons, France), Renew coordinator for the Committee on Defence & Security and shadow rapporteur for SEDE on this file said:
“EDIP is a major achievement. EDIP aims to bridge the gap between short-term emergency initiatives and long-term efforts to ensure the EU’s defence industrial readiness. We achieved another major step: we have now a clear definition of what European preference means. The Council should now be able to agree to this eligibility criteria after months of discussions, now that the political groups in the European Parliament were able to find a solution in a few weeks.”
Our political group also managed to secure a specific tool to support the SMEs and mid-caps. There are more than 2500 small and medium companies in Europe working for the defence sector, representing dozen of thousands jobs. Proposed by Renew, a stronger budget for the new program FAST, dedicated to support SMEs along the supply chain for Defence production, will contribute to a more diversified Defence market.
Ivars Ijabs (Latvijas attīstībai, Latvia), Renew shadow rapporteur for the Industry, Research & Energy Committee said:
“While financial resources are crucial, solving the EU’s complex issues, particularly in defence, requires more than just spending. We need a strategic shift towards incentivizing private investment, fostering a culture where its contribution is not only accepted but actively encouraged.”
As for the budget, Renew proposed a substantial increase. We however deplore that it was not possible to open the possibility for the Regions to allocate unused cohesion funds to defence industries on their territories. This is deeply regrettable.
Lucia Yar (Progresívne Slovensko, Slovakia), Renew coordinator for the Committee on Budgets and shadow rapporteur for BUDG on this file, said :
“EDIP is a major step toward a more capable and strategically autonomous European defence industrial base. It was vital to push for a stronger financial package, as the original Commission proposal was woefully inadequate given the current geopolitical environment. We’ve now secured a €20 billion boost, largely financed through the SAFE joint lending instrument under favorable conditions for Member States. I’m also pleased we established a dedicated Ukraine Support Instrument to help integrate Ukrainian innovation leaders into the broader European defence ecosystem, along with clear support for SMEs — key drivers of defence innovation and resilience.”
Source – Renew Europe Group
EDIP: EP favours form over function, risking both – ECR hopes for trilogue
The ECR Group fears that the EU may lose sight of the goal of procuring and producing defence equipment as quickly as possible in its urgent rearmament efforts. The European Conservatives and Reformists have therefore voted against the text of the European Defence Industrial Programme (EDIP) jointly adopted by the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) and the Committee on Security and Defence (SEDE). The ECR hopes for substantial improvements during the trilogue negotiations.
Adam Bielan, ECR shadow rapporteur in the Industry, Research and Energy Committee, said:
“The Commission rightly wanted to focus on accelerating production capacity across Europe. Parliament has made this a secondary objective, while at the same time giving priority to strengthening the autonomy of the European defence industry. The requirement that 70 per cent of components in defence products be manufactured in Europe, as well as all other overly restrictive criteria, would mean excluding existing, well-functioning partnerships. This does not take into account the interests and pressing needs of all Member States, nor does it reflect the diversity of EU defence companies across the Union and their different ownership structures.
“Given the urgency and the international environment, we must remain pragmatic. Working with trusted suppliers particularly from NATO countries is essential to meet urgent needs.”
Elena Donazzan, ECR shadow rapporteur in the Security and Defence Committee, agreed with Bielan:
“This vote was a missed opportunity to improve the text. While the current position aims to strengthen EU defence autonomy, it does not fully reflect the industrial reality in many Member States. In the short term, Europe remains dependent on external supply chains. This must be recognised if we want delivery times to match strategic urgency.
“We in the ECR Group remain committed to a stronger, more resilient European defence industry. But we warn against ignoring the Union’s existing industrial diversity – and penalising companies with long-standing, effective partnerships beyond Europe’s borders.”
For the ECR Group, speed is of the essence in the context of geostrategic developments, particularly in the defence sector. Operational readiness must not be hampered by structural ambitions that cannot yet be realised. The result of the vote – 70 in favour, 46 against, and 8 abstentions – illustrates the considerable differences between the political groups and national delegations.
Source – ECR Group
ESN: Brussels wants €1.5 Billion for a EU Super-Army: Hands off our Sovereignty!
The ESN Group firmly rejected the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP), adopted last Thursday in the Committees on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) and on Security and Defence (SEDE). The Group voted unanimously against the report, which passed with 70 votes in favour, 46 against, and 8 abstentions.
From the ESN’s perspective, the EDIP violates the principle of national sovereignty and leads to further centralisation of defence policy at EU level. The planned increase in national contributions and the obligation to conduct joint procurement — with the goal of achieving at least 40 per cent of military procurement jointly by 2030 — undermine Member States’ freedom of decision and place an additional burden of €1.5 billion on national budgets via the EU budget. While the introduction of a “Buy European” principle, requiring 70 per cent of value creation within the EU, is welcome in principle, it is not sufficient to protect the interests of individual nations.
The ESN Group also criticises the integration of Ukraine into the European defence industry as risky and politically motivated. Rather than further communitisation, the ESN Group calls for a consistent strengthening of national defence industries and a return to a policy of national responsibility.
Markus Buchheit (AfD), Member of the European Parliament for the ESN Group, stated:
“The security of Europe is the responsibility of sovereign nation-states, not the Brussels bureaucracy. The EDIP is another step towards a European army, which we firmly reject. We stand for national sovereignty, democratic oversight, and a responsible defence policy to ensure the safety of our citizens. The ESN Group will continue to advocate for the preservation of sovereignty and the interests of Europe’s nations.”
Source – ESN