EU leaders will discuss the latest developments in the field of defence on Thursday 15 December. According to draft conclusions, the European Council will reportedly call for the acceleration of ongoing work (see EUROPE 13074/24).
“The EU is taking more responsibility for its own security and, in the field of defence, pursuing a strategic course of action and increasing its capacity to act autonomously. Strengthening the industrial and technological base of the European defence sector will contribute to this”, the conclusions state, mentioning in parallel the importance of the transatlantic bond.
The European Council therefore calls for a swift adoption of the European Defence Industry Reinforcement through common Procurement Act (EDIRPA), for intensified efforts to identify requirements and to facilitate and coordinate joint procurement.
It also calls for the rapid presentation of a proposal for a European Defence Investment Programme to reinforce the capacity and resilience of the European defence technology and industrial sector, including SMEs and to fill strategic gaps and reduce technological and industrial dependencies.
The leaders also want to accelerate the implementation of military mobility infrastructure projects and to strengthen civilian CSDP (see EUROPE 13083/35). They call for investment in ‘strategic enablers’, such as cybersecurity and space-based connectivity, as well as in the resilience of critical infrastructure. A strong EU cyber defence policy and the swift implementation of the EU ‘hybrid toolbox’ are also stressed.
The European Council further reiterates the commitment to invest in the capabilities needed to conduct missions and operations, including a rapid deployment capability, inviting Member States to make full use of collaborative instruments and frameworks to this end.
Finally, it reaffirms the importance of the Union’s commitment to support its partners, notably through instruments such as the ‘European Peace Facility’ and CSDP missions and operations.
See the draft conclusions: https://aeur.eu/f/4m1 (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)