Addressing defence ministers at a conference in Malta on Thursday 27 April on the EU’s global strategy, Internal Market and Industry Commissioner Elżbieta Bieńkowska gave details of the European Commission action in sectors under her responsibility in order to boost a European defence.
The Commissioner spoke at length about current and future initiatives in the defence domain following the Bratislava Declaration (see EUROPE 11626) and the five scenarios for the future of Europe (see EUROPE 11736).
In terms of the European Defence Action Plan and the European Defence Fund, the Commissioner pointed out that she will be unveiling a European defence industry development plan in early June with the aim of supporting national financing for the development of common capabilities in order to limit duplication in agreement with the member states.
The programme will in particular support development phases that are by nature the riskiest financially. In this connection, the Commissioner explained that a toolbox is being developed at the Commission to support collaboration between the member states. The proposal is due to be presented at the same time as a Commission reflection document on the future of European defence, she added.
Bieńkowska said that by the end of the year, the Commission would be publishing recommendations to encourage the authorities responsible for public procurement to facilitate access to the cross-border market for SMEs and public procurement in the defence and defence supply chain sector. The Commissioner mentioned modernisation of defence logistics chains in connection with Structural Plans and investment funds.
Space, a future defence pillar. In addition, the Commissioner noted the importance of the space sector for the emergence of an EU defence policy and in particular, the two EU flagship programmes of Copernicus and Galileo, in connection with the strategy of the month of October (see EUROPE 11655) and areas being examined by the Council (see EUROPE 11748). Interestingly, the Commissioner said she wanted to turn the current Space Surveillance and Tracking programme into a ‘Space Situational Awareness system' for Europe in order to monitor space debris and protect crucial infrastructure. Finally, the Commissioner said that the European Commission would be launching the secure satellite communication system GovSatCom later this year (see EUROPE 11724). (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)