The European Commission and EU High Representative Josep Borrell presented the first European defence industry strategy at EU level, which envisages closer cooperation with Ukraine, and proposed an ambitious set of new measures to support the competitiveness and readiness of the European defence industry.
This is stated in the press release of the European Commission.
In particular, Russia's unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine marked the return of high-intensity conflict to the European continent.
In the wake of the war, the European Defence Industry Strategy sets out a clear, long-term vision for achieving the readiness of the defence industry in the European Union.
Thus, the European Commission today comes up with a legislative proposal for the European Defence Industrial Programme and defines a list of measures to ensure the timely availability and supply of defence products. These steps are the first, immediate and basic means to implement the strategy.
The strategy lists the challenges currently facing the European military-technical and industrial base and opportunities to fully exploit the potential. The direction of development for the next decade has also been determined. In particular, in order to strengthen the readiness of the European defence industry, Member States must invest more and better, and act together.
At the same time, in order to support member states in achieving these goals, the strategy establishes a set of measures, among which is the importance of cooperation with NATO and like-minded strategic and international partners, and in particular, closer cooperation with Ukraine.
It is proposed to develop closer ties with Ukraine through its participation in EU initiatives to support European industry and stimulate cooperation between the defense industries of the EU and Ukraine.
It also highlights the importance of supporting a more effective expression of Member States' collective defence needs; ensuring the availability of all defense products by increasing the efficiency of the European military-technical and industrial base; ensuring that national and EU budgets support with the necessary funds the adaptation of the European defence industry to the new security environment, etc.
At the same time, the strategy sets out indicators that aim to measure the progress of EU member states in terms of industrial readiness.
In this regard, the following measures are proposed to EU member states:
- procure at least 40% of defence equipment on the basis of cooperation by 2030;
- by 2030, ensure that the value of defence trade within the EU is at least 35% of the value of the EU defence market;
- achieve sustainable progress in procurement at the level of at least 50% of the EU defence procurement budget by 2030 and 60% by 2035.
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