A lengthy debate took place at the European Parliament’s industry, research and energy (ITRE) committee on Monday 22 January. This debate focused on the role industry should play in decisions regarding the priorities they set out as part of the European Defence Fund.
Discussions mainly focused on the European industrial development programme in the defence domain, which the European Commission put forward last June
(see EUROPE 11803) and whose rapporteur at the European Parliament is Françoise Grossetête (EPP, France).
There were many different questions raised and debated, including those relating to export rights, eligibility and allocation criteria, controls relating to beneficiary enterprises by companies in third countries, reductions in the period between research and marketing. The most heated debates, however, undoubtedly focused on the question about the role played by the industrial sector in setting out research priorities and sometimes scathing accusations were made in this respect by MEPs, including Édouard Martin (S&D, France) and Reinhard Bütikofer (Greens/EFA, Germany).
Ben Hayes, a researcher at the Transnational Institute and Frédéric Mauro, a researcher at the Group for Research and Information on Peace and Security (GRIP), were both invited by the committee to attend the panel and agreed on the need to learn lessons about past mistakes and to necessarily include this policy in the decision-making process.
Mr Mauro pointed out that this was because in the defence domain, an act of sale or purchase are, above all, political acts, for which European defence policy should not become a defence industry policy. He also pointed out that the European defence policy objective is, above all, strategic autonomy. In his view this is based around three component parts: political, operational and industrial.
Jan Pie, the Secretary-General of the AeroSpace and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD), provided assurances that the industry would not attempt to take usurp the right to make decisions and had an advisory role in estimating the costs of research and development and providing expertise.
The European Commission representative explained that his institution would give primacy to the member states by prioritising the committee stages approach. The European Commission also intends to prepare follow-up reports.
It should be recalled that the main aim of this programme, which has an envelope of €500 million, is to enhance competitiveness and innovation in the EU defence industry, particularly cyber defence, by supporting cooperation between companies and different member states.
Ms Grossetête’s report is expected to be adopted by 21 or 22 February. The Council reached its position on the matter last December (see EUROPE 11925). (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)