Council Conclusions of 13 May 2003 "European defence — industrial and market issues: towards an EU defence equipment policy"
Date: 2003-05-13
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: arms industry, common security and defence policy, market, military equipment

26.6.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 149/9

— ensure the full

the eEurope 2005
Action Plan, in particular with respect to the needs of
SMEs and their broadband access and use;

implementation of

and on remaining obstacles for using ICT and e-business
services.

— report outcomes of

the European e-business support
network for SMEs on a regular basis to the eEurope
Steering Group;

8. INVITES THE COMMISSION, MEMBER STATES AND ACCEDING

COUNTRIES TO:

— promote the development of SME-friendly ICT and
inter alia, by facilitating access of

e-business solutions,
SMEs to the sixth RTD framework programme;

— further analyse and benchmark the progress made in the
ICT and e-business, based upon the eEurope

field of
2005 benchmarking indicators;

— consider the possibility to establish an EU network for
the information and support to women entrepreneurs in
the ICT sector, and promote an EU level awareness
initiative;

— report to the Council by end 2004 on the progress made
in the various initiatives to support e-business for SMEs

— actively engage in the European e-business support
network for SMEs, as part of the eEurope 2005 Action
Plan, bringing together regional, national and European
e-business initiatives, with a view to facilitating exchange
of experience and agreeing, on a voluntary basis, future
policy priorities and targets.

COUNCIL CONCLUSIONS

of 13 May 2003

‘European defence — industrial and market issues: towards an EU defence equipment policy’

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

(2003/C 149/04)

WELCOMES the communication of the Commission ‘Towards an EU defence equipment policy’ as a
valuable contribution towards creating the necessary conditions for strengthening the industrial and
market situation of European businesses, which are directly or indirectly connected with the defence
equipment market, enhancing defence related research and improving international competitiveness of
the industries concerned;

RECALLS that the Brussels European Council of 20-21 March 2003 recognised the role that defence and
security-related R&D could play in promoting leading-edge technologies and thereby stimulating inno-
vation and competitiveness;

RECOGNISES in particular the importance of putting in place arrangements, which could lead to greater
cost-effectiveness, improved harmonisation of standards, and more efficient planning and procurement of
defence equipment and RTD based on technological innovation;

NOTES the Commission's intention to further develop the initiatives identified in pursuit of these objectives
and will examine the specific issues raised in the communication in the appropriate bodies of the Council;
WELCOMES the Commission's identification of themes for further reflection and stresses the importance
that this analysis takes into consideration the contribution that entrepreneurial researchers, start-ups or
SMEs can make to the attainment of the Lisbon goals;

WELCOMES the intention of the Commission to present by the end of 2003 a further communication
developing more fully its planned preparatory action on security-related research, with reference also to the
longer-term perspective;

INVITES the Commission to report on progress made towards the achievement of the objectives set out
above by the end of 2003.