In a scoping paper for EU leaders published on Monday 29 September ahead of the informal summit on 1 October, the European Commission proposed the launch of four European flagship projects: the European Drone Wall (see EUROPE 13718/16), the Eastern Flank Watch (see EUROPE 13706/3), the Air Defence Shield and the Space Defence Shield.
“Given the continuing military aggression against Ukraine and the recent increase in violations of Member States’ airspace, two flagship projects - the ‘European Drone Wall’ and the Eastern Flank Watch - require particular urgency and should be implemented rapidly”, the Commission stresses in its document.
The European Commission also believes that achieving the objective of preparing a European defence by 2030 requires the adoption of a “systemic” approach. In its view, it is essential for Europe to make good its existing critical capability deficits by developing and acquiring defence capabilities in the nine priority areas. “To this end, the Member States should rapidly complete the process of forming coalitions of collective capabilities”, explains the Commission.
“Increasingly directing defence investment towards joint procurement will be a key factor in preparation, since aggregating demand and economies of scale will help to increase the production capacity of the European defence industry and promote interoperability”, the Commission warns.
It explains that to contribute to industrial cooperation, the EU should update its legislative frameworks on competition and state aid. The European Commission also intends to speed up simplification in order to reduce the administrative burden, by means of additional ‘omnibus’ proposals, encouraging the adoption of those already presented by the end of 2025 at the latest (see EUROPE 13661/6).
With regard to innovation, the Commission intends to present a roadmap for the transformation of European defence by the end of November. The same month, it will present an “ambitious package” on military mobility.
These ideas should be included in the roadmap ‘Preparing European defence’ for 2030, due to be presented in mid-October, ahead of the European Council on 23 and 24 October, which will return to defence issues.
See the Commission’s proposals: https://aeur.eu/f/io4 (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)