The Commission proposes reforms for the better readiness of Europe to face security crises, including simplified defense procurement.
On Tuesday, the European Commission (EC) proposed new measures to speed up investment in defense and production so that the European Union could better respond to current security calls. It refers to the white book on European defense readiness by 2030, TASR reports.
The aim of the measures is to help Member States and industry increase defense capacities and infrastructure to meet the requirements for mastering a highly intense conflict and thus to avert it. According to the EC statement, measures reduce bureaucracy, facilitate investment in defense capabilities and provide industry with greater predictability. They also facilitate access to EU funds.
Key proposal points include the introduction of an accelerated regime of granting permits for defense projects. The permitting process can take several years across the EU, the proposal is to be shortened to 60 days. It also proposes the establishment of uniform contact points in the Member States for the defense industry.
The EC also requires a reduction in administrative burden of applicants and participants within the European Defense Fund (EDF). It will also simplify the increased participation of Ukrainian entities in EDF.
The third of the measures submitted is to simplify procurement of procurement by supporting common purchases and increasing the contractual thresholds, thereby accelerating cross -border transfers of defensive industry products
The European Commission also proposes to clarify the application of existing rules in force throughout the EU, such as competition legislation or the environment. It wants to prevent their abuse or incorrect application to the defense sector. Adaptation of chemical regulation of defensive needs is another of the points mentioned.
The last point of the proposal is to improve access to financing by streamlining the Investment Program Criteria, providing guidelines on sustainable defense investments and clarifying the term forbidden weapons according to the sustainable funding framework.
According to the EC, the aim of these measures is to strengthen Europe’s ability to act quickly and coordinated, while ensuring that the defense industry is able to respond at the necessary speed and extent. The proposal will be the subject of negotiations in the European Parliament, and in the EU Council in the framework of proper legislative procedure.
