24/06/2025 (Agence Europe) – Negotiations between the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union on the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP) are set to begin after Member States’ ambassadors to the EU agreed their negotiating positions on Monday 23 June (see EUROPE 13664/24). With an initial budget of €1.5 billion, including €300 million to support the Ukrainian defence industry, EDIP will incentivise the European defence industry through joint procurement and capacity-building. As with the ‘SAFE’ instrument for granting European loans, components not originating from the EU or associated countries may not exceed 35% of the total amount of military equipment. The ‘design authority’ requirement is introduced by default, so that EU countries retain control over the design and development of defence products, says the EU Council. See the text approved by the EU Council: https://aeur.eu/f/hjt (MB)