The European Parliament approves the Programme for the European Defence Industry

The European Parliament approves a new regulation to strengthen the European Union's defence industry, promote joint procurement and streamline the production of military equipment. They reported on the parliament's website.

The key is the establishment of the first European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP), which MEPs and member states had previously agreed informally.

The programme is intended to strengthen Europe's defence technological and industrial base and bring member states closer to a common defence capability.

Out of a total budget of €1.5 billion, €300 million will go towards a new Instrument in Support of Ukraine to help modernise its defence industry and link it to the European one. The EDIP will also include a minimum €150 million FAST facility to accelerate the transformation of defence supply chains.

MEPs also pushed for the possibility to redirect unused money from the Recovery and Resilience Facility to EDIP projects.

Funded projects will have to involve at least four member states and procurement will be subject to the "buy European" principle, i.e. that the cost of components sourced from non-affiliated third countries should not exceed 35 per cent of the estimated total cost of the components.

The regulation was supported by 457 MEPs, with 148 against and 33 abstentions. The document now awaits formal approval by member states.

(lud)