The launch of the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP) marks a pivotal moment in the EU's journey towards strategic autonomy, underlining a significant shift in how Europe perceives and approaches its defence capabilities and industrial base. This new legislative initiative represents the EU's concrete steps toward realizing a vision that has been under discussion for years—strengthening the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB) amidst evolving global threats and challenges.
Fernando Aguiar, BIC's Senior Advisor, said: "For years, the notion of the EU's strategic autonomy remained largely theoretical, often discussed but rarely seen in practice. The introduction of the EDIP marks a significant shift — Europe is not just talking the talk but walking the walk towards realising a robust and integrated defence industry."
The EDIP aims to bridge the gap between short-term emergency measures and a more structural, long-term approach to defence industrial readiness. With a budget of €1.5 billion for 2025-2027, it seeks to bolster the competitiveness of the EDTIB, encourage investments, and support the industrialisation of defence products stemming from cooperative R&D efforts. This initiative is critical not only for enhancing the EU's defence capabilities but also for fostering closer ties with key strategic partners like Ukraine and NATO.
Fernando Aguiar further highlights the importance of this shift towards a more pragmatic and cooperative defence strategy: "The strategic foresight embedded in the EDIP—aiming for collaborative procurement and intra-EU defence trade—echoes a fundamental change. It's about moving beyond aspirations to actionable strategies that fortify the EU's defence posture and industry, bringing together European security with innovation, cooperation, and resilience."
Years ago, one of the Directors of the Brussels International Center Dr Abujazar highlighted across various media platforms the importance of establishing European defense institutions, akin to the continent's existing political, parliamentary, economic, and border security structures. He argued for Europe's potential for defense autonomy, citing its comprehensive capabilities. With financial, geographical, human, and technological resources at its disposal, and being a manufacturer of advanced weaponry, radars, and other military equipment for land, air, and sea, Europe is well-equipped to become a significant military force on the international stage in a relatively short period.
The new Strategy, while a significant step towards enhancing the EU's strategic autonomy and defence capabilities, faces notable challenges. Key among these is “achieving unified coordination among Member States, given the deeply ingrained principle that defence remains a national responsibility. The prospect of supranational oversight or coordination in defence procurement and industrial readiness may encounter resistance, as Member States are keen to retain their sovereign competences in defence matters” said Fernando Aguiar. This tension between the need for an integrated European defence strategy and the preservation of national sovereignty in defence policy poses a delicate balance for the EDIP to navigate.
Despite the challenges, through the EDIP and its comprehensive set of actions, the EU is setting a clear direction for the next decade to increase European defence industrial readiness. This entails not only financial investment but also regulatory innovations to ensure an effective cooperation among Member States, secure the supply of defence products, and adapt the European defence industry to new security contexts.