Brussels: The committees on Security and Defence (SEDE) and on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) of the European Parliament have endorsed the agreement reached with the Council regarding the European defence industry programme (EDIP). The draft law aims to enhance the EU defence industry, encourage joint European defence procurement, increase defence manufacturing, and provide more support for Ukraine.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the agreement was finalized last Thursday between Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and the Danish Presidency of the Council. This agreement will lead to the establishment of the first European defence industry programme (EDIP), which is designed to reinforce the European defence technological and industrial base. This is deemed crucial for improving European defence capabilities.
The proposal was approved during a joint ITRE-SEDE vote with 94 votes in favor, 11 against, and 10 abstentions. The full House is expected to vote on this draft during the plenary session in Strasbourg from 15-18 December.
The European Commission initially proposed the European defence industry programme (EDIP) regulation on 5 March 2024. The programme aims to achieve defence industrial readiness by bridging the gap between short-term emergency measures, including the Act in Support of Ammunition Production (ASAP) and the European Defence Industry Reinforcement through Common Procurement Act (EDIRPA), and a more structural, long-term strategy. The European defence industrial base consists of large multinational companies, mid-caps, and over 2,000 small and medium-sized enterprises, with an estimated combined annual turnover of £70 billion.