On Wednesday 11 March, the European Parliament called for the creation of a true single market for defence, “essential to close the capability gaps and (...) to truly establish and maintain a competitive, innovative and resilient EDTIB (European Defence Technological and Industrial Base)”.
In the report by Tobias Cremer (S&D, German) which they adopted (393 votes in favour, 169 against and 67 abstentions), MEPs urge Member States and the Commission to act swiftly to create a true single market for defence.
The European Parliament considers that the absence of a harmonised European export control system and a lack of mutual recognition of different permits, licences, certifications and security clearances continue to hamper the functioning of a single market for defence through their impact on intra-EU transfers. MEPs therefore call for progress on these issues.
In particular, they believe that the implementation of Directive 2009/81/EC on defence and security procurement needs to be significantly improved, and call on the Commission to propose an ambitious revision. In their view, it is necessary to simplify rules and abolish hurdles related to intra-EU transfers of defence products.
The European Parliament also wants the Commission to explore targeted adaptations of Union competition rules to better support the defence industry’s unique needs, such as the introduction of a targeted block exemption for defence R&D projects financed by Union programmes.
The Commission is also invited to further quantify the potential financial and operational benefits of a single market for defence.
The European Parliament also calls on the EU and its Member States to treat Ukraine as an integral part of the single market for defence to the utmost extent possible.
See the report: https://aeur.eu/f/l4v (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)