The European Parliament approved by a narrow majority (328 votes in favour, 231 against and 19 abstentions) on Thursday 18 April the Interinstitutional Agreement on the European Defence Fund (EDF). A result that shows the strong division between MEPs in relation to the text carried by Zdzisław Krasnodębski (ECR, Poland), particularly within the S&D group (see EUROPE 12198/22).
Opponents of the text - such as shadow rapporteur Édouard Martin (S&D, France) - support the principle of greater EU involvement in industrial and research cooperation on future defence technologies, in particular with a view to reducing the Union's dependence on non-European, particularly American, equipment. However, they argue that this should not be done at any cost.
Some Social Democrats criticise in particular Mr Krasnodębski's report for: - leaving the door open to the financing of weapons which are not formally or completely prohibited under international law, but whose use raises questions; - not imposing effective European arms export controls and not complying with international arms sales treaties; - adopting the comitology procedure, thus preventing Parliament from playing an active role in monitoring the implementation of the Fund.
However, on the latter point, according to a source close to the dossier supporting the agreement, the Parliament will indeed have a role, because, as co-legislator, it "has built the whole legislative act, from the beginning, in collaboration with the EU Council". In addition, the text provides that it will carry out a clear and permanent budgetary control on the EDF.
"On this point, I think we had solid arguments that tipped the balance for many socialist MEPs who finally did not follow Edouard Martin”, the same source told us.
“We have won the battle to ensure a strong common European Defence Fund for the future [...] and I am convinced that its adoption will be a major step forward for our European defence industry”, Françoise Grossetête (EPP, France) was delighted to say.
To consult Mr Krasnodębski's report: https://bit.ly/2IHsQDg. (Original version in French by Damien Genicot - intern)