European defence industry programme (EDIP) : committees on Industry and Defence endorse deal with Council
The two EP committees on Security and Defence (SEDE) and on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) approved on Monday the agreement reached with Council last week.
The draft law aims to strengthen the EU defence industry, foster joint European defence procurement, ramp-up defence manufacturing and increase support for Ukraine.
The agreement reached on Thursday between MEPs and the Danish Presidency of the Council will allow for the creation of the first-ever European defence industry programme (EDIP). The scheme seeks to strengthen the European defence technological and industrial base essential for boosting European defence capabilities. The full text of the draft agreement between Parliament and Council is available here.
Next steps
The text was adopted during a joint ITRE-SEDE vote by 94 votes to 11, with 10 abstentions. It will be put to a vote by the full House during the 15-18 December plenary session in Strasbourg.
Background
The Commission put forward a proposal for a European defence industry programme (EDIP) regulation on 5 March 2024. The EDIP seeks to achieve defence industrial readiness by bridging the gap between short-term emergency measures, such as the Act in Support of Ammunition Production (ASAP) and the European Defence Industry Reinforcement through Common Procurement Act (EDIRPA), with a more structural, long-term approach.
The European defence industrial base comprises a number of large multinational companies, mid-caps and over 2,000 small and medium-sized enterprises, with an estimated combined annual turnover of pound 70 billion.