On Monday 30 March, the European Commission unveiled the work programme for 2026 and 2027 for the ‘EDIP’ programme, which aims to strengthen the European defence technological and industrial base (see EUROPE 13733/4).
With a total budget of €1.5 billion, the EDIP programme will be distributed as follows: - actions to strengthen industry (production of anti-drone systems, missiles, munitions): €700 million); - joint acquisition actions : €250 million); - the Ukraine support instrument (€300 million, including €260 million from actions to strengthen industry); - European Defence Projects of Common Interest (EDPCIs): €325 million); - the ‘Fund Accelerating Defence Supply Chains Transformation’ (FAST) for SMEs and innovative companies: €100 million (financing in the form of direct equity investments and contributions from the EIB and the Member States); - support initiatives : €100 million).
Funds will be awarded on the basis of competitive calls for tender published on the European Commission’s Funding Opportunities website. These calls for tender will be launched from April 2026, and their timetable will depend on the type of action financed.
“The objective is to give time to companies and public authorities to come up with excellent projects”, said a European official, stressing the importance of “aligning with Ukraine’s needs”.
EDPCIs. According to this official, the European defence projects of common interest, which will have to involve at least four EU countries and will be open to Norway and Ukraine, will “change the game” in the way Member States are able to build “collaborative and ambitious” industrial investments.
The first step will be to identify the list of projects of common interest that the Council of the EU will adopt by means of a delegated act on a proposal from the Commission.
See the ‘EDIP’ work programme: https://aeur.eu/f/ldt (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)