Source: http://parltrack.euwiki.org/dossier/2013/2125(INI)
Timestamp: 2017-03-25 04:01:21
Document Index: 2850062

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 4', '§ 5', '§ 9', '§ 11', '§ 11', '§ 17', '§ 25', '§ 26', '§ 27', '§ 29', '§ 31', '§ 31', '§ 33', '§ 33', '§ 34', '§ 34', '§ 36', '§ 37', '§ 37', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 44', '§ 44', '§ 46', '§ 46', '§ 47', '§ 48', '§ 48', '§ 49', '§ 51', '§ 52']

2013/2125(INI) | ParlTrack Parltrack
European defence technogical and industrial base 2013/2125(INI)
GAHLER Michael (PPE)
AUDY Jean-Pierre (PPE)
Lead committee dossier: AFET/7/12982
2013/2125(INI) European defence technogical and industrial base
ZEMKE Janusz (S&D),
BÜTIKOFER Reinhard (Verts/ALE),
LÖSING Sabine (GUE/NGL),
TERHO Sampo (EFD)
T7-0514/2013
The European Parliament adopted by 415 votes to 103 with 67 abstentions, a resolution on the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base. Parliament recalled that the development of a strong European defence technological and industrial base (EDTIB) should be part of the strategic priorities of the EU. It welcomed the European Council's decision to put the strengthening of Europe's defence on the agenda for its December summit and called on the European Council to provide the necessary fresh and ambitious impetus in this area. Reduction in budgets and investment: Parliament drew attention to the changing strategic global landscape, and to reduced defence budgets, caused especially by the economic and financial crisis. While some third countries such as China, India, Brazil and Russia are increasing their defence spending, EU defence budgets are being cut back. In this context, the resolution urged Member States to reinforce European industrial cooperation with a view to ensuring, as far as possible, strategic autonomy by developing and producing efficient military and security capabilities using the most advanced technologies. Harmonisation of requirements and consolidation of demand: in view of the fragmentation of demand in the EU, with 28 national defence customers, Parliament calls on the European Council to launch a European defence review process and asked the VP/HR to initiate a wide-ranging process to develop a White Paper on European Security and Defence. Member States are asked to make the coordination of national defence planning processes at EU level a reality and to explore the possibility of synchronising the life-cycle management of their defence capabilities in cooperation with the European Defence Agency (EDA). Industrial policy: according to Members, a European industrial defence policy should have the aim of · optimising Member States capabilities by coordinating the development, deployment and maintenance of a range of capabilities, installations, equipment and services; · promote research and technology cooperation and by developing equipment cooperation programmes. In acting on the fragmentation of the European industrial defence market, Parliament believed that it was time to promote a voluntary approach as regards supply and demand rules and standards. It also stated that it was time to invest in an integrated sustainable industrial policy based on research, innovation, increasing efficiency of resources, a strategy for raw materials, the strengthening of SMEs and the development of regional networks. Member States were invited to: · develop their defence industrial and technological bases and centres of excellence around key technologies; · encourage cooperation between major defence companies and universities; · minimise unnecessary regulatory obstacles, to improve dialogue between defence undertakings and to promote the rationalisation. Common approach to standardisation and certification: Members reiterated the fundamental importance of standardisation of defence equipment for the establishment of a competitive single European defence market, as well as for ensuring interoperability and facilitating cooperation on armaments programmes. Member States were encouraged to: · explore the possibilities offered by the EDA in terms of drafting European standards for military products and applications, for example for the construction of hospital ships; · streamline European certification procedures, with the mutual recognition of certificates. Ensuring security of supply: Parliament called on Member States, the EDA and the Commission: · to rapidly develop a comprehensive and ambitious EU-wide security-of-supply regime; · to submit a non-dependency strategy on critical technologies, in particular as regards unlimited access to and availability of civilian and military (dual-use) emerging and key enabling technologies, such as cutting-edge micro-/nano-electronics, artificial intelligence and photonics. Giving a new impetus to armaments cooperation: Parliament: · recommended developing key enablers with civil-military applications, which are sorely lacking in the majority of the Member States, such as some remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS); · encouraged EU participation in joint projects through leasing and/or acquisition of dual-use capabilities and the possible procurement of prototypes; · urged the European Council to strengthen the existing administrative arrangement between the EDA and the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR). Furthermore, the resolution stressed the need to: · support CSDP missions through European research and development using the Horizon 2020 research programme; · establish an appropriate platform for bringing defence research to the civilian sphere; · maintain the excellence of this technologically innovative and efficient industry in order to ensure the technological independence of the European Union; · increase cooperation between the European Union and its key partners for the safety and security of infrastructure and technology. Members wanted to see the development of cyber-security standards and the integration of these with international standards. Strengthening the internal market in defence equipment: Parliament invited Member States to improve the transparency and increase the openness of their defence markets, while stressing the specific nature of defence procurement. It also invited the Commission to step up efforts to build a level playing field in the defence market, limiting the use of market-distorting practices to the strict minimum of duly justified derogations.
The Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted the report by Michael GAHLER (EPP, DE) on the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base, in response to the Commission communication entitled Towards a more competitive and efficient defence and security sector. The Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, in exercising its prerogatives as an associated committee in accordance with Article 50 of Parliaments Rules of Procedure, was also consulted for an opinion on this report. Members recalled that an operational Common Security and Defence Policy needs a strong European defence technological and industrial base (EDTIB). They welcomed the European Council's decision to put the strengthening of Europe's defence on the agenda for its December summit and called on the European Council to provide the necessary fresh and ambitious impetus in this area. While some third countries such as China, India, Brazil and Russia are increasing their defence spending, EU defence budgets are being cut back. Concerned about the reductions in defence investment, the report urged the Member States to reinforce European industrial cooperation with a view to ensuring, as far as possible, strategic autonomy by developing and producing efficient military and security capabilities using the most advanced technologies. Harmonisation of requirements and consolidation of demand: the report called on the European Council to launch a European defence review process and make the coordination of national defence planning processes at EU level a reality. Member States are invited to further explore the possibility of synchronising and jointly planning the life-cycle management of their defence capabilities in cooperation with the European Defence Agency (EDA). Industrial policy: according to Members, a European industrial defence policy should have the aim of optimising Member States capabilities by coordinating the development, deployment and maintenance of a range of capabilities, installations, equipment and services. It should also promote research and technology cooperation and by developing equipment cooperation programmes. The report stated that it is time to promote a voluntary approach in acting on the fragmentation of the European industrial defence market, furthering its consolidation (and initiating harmonisation) as regards supply and demand, rules and standards. Member States are invited to: develop their defence industrial and technological bases and centres of excellence around key technologies, and provide them with effective corporate governance mechanisms within the European Union; encourage cooperation between major defence companies and universities; minimise unnecessary regulatory obstacles, to improve dialogue between defence undertakings and to promote the rationalisation; develop ways and means of consolidating small and medium-sized enterprises in a sustainable manner and of facilitating their access to defence procurement. Common approach to standardisation and certification: Members reiterated the fundamental importance of standardisation of defence equipment for the establishment of a competitive single European defence market, as well as for ensuring interoperability and facilitating cooperation on armaments programmes. Member States are encouraged to: explore the possibilities offered by the European Defence Agency (EDA) in terms of drafting European standards for military products and applications, for example for the construction of hospital ships or in the field of remote-controlled aerial systems; streamline European certification procedures, with the mutual recognition of certificates and the development of common civilian and military European certification procedures. Ensuring security of supply: Member States, the EDA and the Commission are invited to rapidly develop a comprehensive and ambitious EU-wide security-of-supply regime, and to submit a joint non-dependency strategy on critical technologies, in particular as regards unlimited access to and availability of civilian and military (dual-use) emerging and key enabling technologies, such as cutting-edge micro-/nano-electronics, artificial intelligence and photonics. Giving a new impetus to armaments cooperation: the report recommended developing key enablers with civil-military applications, which are sorely lacking in the majority of the Member States, such as some remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS), fostering the development of high technologies and helping sustain key competencies within Europe. It encouraged EU participation in joint projects through leasing and/or acquisition of dual-use capabilities and the possible procurement of prototypes. The European Council is urged, against the background of the existing administrative arrangement between the EDA and the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR). The report also highlighted the need: to support CSDP missions through European research and development: Members emphasised the importance of research and innovation in the security and defence sector and of the Horizon 2020 research programme and invited the Member States to establish an appropriate platform for bringing defence research to the civilian sphere, with a focus on cutting-edge technological applications; to maintain the excellence of this technologically innovative and efficient industry in order to ensure the technological independence of the European Union; for greater cooperation and exchange of know-how among Member States, on the one hand, and between the European Union and its key partners, on the other; for the safety and security of infrastructure and technology; to develop European ICT and cyber-security standards and integrating them with international standards. Strengthening the internal market in defence equipment: Members recalled that Member States urgently need to improve the transparency and increase the openness of their defence markets, while stressing the specific nature of defence procurement. The Commission is urged to step up efforts to build a level playing field in the defence market, limiting the use of market-distorting practices to the strict minimum of duly justified derogations.
AFET/7/12982
GAHLER Michael PPE
GÁLL-PELCZ Ildikó PPE
AUDY Jean-Pierre PPE
COM(2013)0542
PURPOSE: to set out an Action Plan for the Commissions contribution to strengthening the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). BACKGROUND: the security challenges the EU is facing are numerous, complex, interrelated and difficult to foresee. The strategic and geopolitical environment is rapidly and constantly evolving. The worlds balance of power is shifting as new centres of gravity are emerging and the US is rebalancing its strategic focus towards Asia. The crisis in public spending induces cuts in defence budgets. From 2001 to 2010 EU defence spending declined from 251 billion to 194 billion. These budget cuts are also having a serious impact on the industries that develop equipment for our armed forces. They affect in particular the investment in defence R&D that is crucial for developing capabilities of the future. The problem of shrinking defence budgets is aggravated by the persisting fragmentation of European markets which leads to unnecessary duplication of capabilities, organisations and expenditures. This situation necessitates a reorientation of priorities. Defence industry in Europe directly employs about 400 000 people and generates up to another 960 000 indirect jobs. It is, therefore, a sector that is essential to retain if Europe is to remain a world-leading centre for manufacturing and innovation. The European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB) constitutes a key element for Europe's capacity to ensure the security of its citizens and to protect its values and interests. Europe must be able to assume its responsibilities for its own security and for international peace and stability in general. This necessitates a certain degree of strategic autonomy: to be a credible and reliable partner, Europe must be able to decide and to act without depending on the capabilities of third parties. Security of supply, access to critical technologies and operational sovereignty are therefore crucial. Defence is still at the heart of national sovereignty and decisions on military capabilities remain with Member States. However, the EU does have a significant contribution to make. With Members States having amongst themselves around 1.6 million soldiers and annual defence budgets of 194 billion the EU has the capacity to be a strategic actor on the international stage, in line with its values. The European Council, in its Conclusions of 14 December 2012, called upon the High Representative, notably through the European External Action Service and the European Defence Agency, as well as the Commission, to develop further proposals and actions to strengthen CSDP and improve the availability of the required civilian and military capabilities. CONTENT: this Communication builds on the work of the Commission's Defence Task Force established in 2011 with the objective to strengthen the defence sector by mobilising all relevant EU policies. The European External Action Service (EEAS) and European Defence Agency (EDA) have been fully associated to the work of the Task Force and in the preparation of this Communication. This Communication presents a package of measures aiming to encourage the cooperation between Member States. It aims to exploit possible synergies and cross-fertilisation which come from the blurring of the dividing line between defence and security and between civil and military. To reach these objectives, the Commission sets out an Action Plan to strengthen the CSDP in the following areas: Strengthen the internal market for defence and security: the Commission has put forward the two Directives on defence and sensitive security procurement (2009/81/EC) and transfers (2009/43/EC), which constitute today the cornerstone of the European defence market. The Commission shall also tackle persisting unfair and discriminatory practices and market distortions as well as develop instruments which enable Member States to improve the security of supply between them. Strengthen the competitiveness of the EDTIB: to this end, the Commission will develop a defence industrial policy based on the following strands: support for competitiveness  including developing 'hybrid standards' to benefit security and defence markets and examining the ways to develop a European certification system for military airworthiness, building on the civil experience of EASA gained by certifying the Airbus A-400M (in its civil configuration); screen raw materials that are critical for the defence sector within the context of the EUs overall raw materials strategy and prepare, if necessary, targeted policy actions; support for SMEs  including development of a European Strategic Cluster Partnership to provide links with other clusters and support defence-related SMEs in global competition; promote skills identified as essential to the future of the industry including through the "Sector Skills Alliances" and "Knowledge Alliances" programmes currently being trialled. In this context, Member States can use the support that can be provided by the European Social Fund (ESF) and in certain cases of mass redundancies also by the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund. Exploiting dual-use potential of research and reinforcing innovation and reducing the energy footprint: this concerns exploiting civilian military synergies to the maximum extent possible in order to ensure the most efficient use of European tax payers' resources, in particular by: concentrating its efforts on possible cross-fertilisation between civil and military research and the dual-use potential of space; assessing the possibility of EU-owned dual-use capabilities, which may in certain security areas complement national capabilities and become effective and cost-efficient force multipliers; considering launching a preparatory action for CSDP-related research focusing on those areas where EU defence capabilities are most needed; helping armed forces reduce their energy consumption and thereby contribute to the Unions 20/20/20 targets. The Commission invites the European Council to discuss this Action Plan in December 2013. On the basis of the discussions with Heads of State and Government, the Commission will develop for the areas defined in this Communication a detailed roadmap with concrete actions and timelines.
Non-legislative basic document published: COM(2013)0542
Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading: A7-0358/2013
Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading: T7-0514/2013
A7-0358/2013 - Michael Gahler - § 4
A7-0358/2013 - Michael Gahler - § 5
A7-0358/2013 - Michael Gahler - § 9/2
A7-0358/2013 - Michael Gahler - § 11/1
A7-0358/2013 - Michael Gahler - § 11/2
A7-0358/2013 - Michael Gahler - § 17
A7-0358/2013 - Michael Gahler - § 25
A7-0358/2013 - Michael Gahler - § 26
A7-0358/2013 - Michael Gahler - § 27
A7-0358/2013 - Michael Gahler - § 29
A7-0358/2013 - Michael Gahler - § 31/1
A7-0358/2013 - Michael Gahler - § 31/2
A7-0358/2013 - Michael Gahler - § 33/1
A7-0358/2013 - Michael Gahler - § 33/2
A7-0358/2013 - Michael Gahler - § 34/1
A7-0358/2013 - Michael Gahler - § 34/2
A7-0358/2013 - Michael Gahler - § 36
A7-0358/2013 - Michael Gahler - § 37/1
A7-0358/2013 - Michael Gahler - § 37/2
A7-0358/2013 - Michael Gahler - § 40/1
A7-0358/2013 - Michael Gahler - § 40/2
A7-0358/2013 - Michael Gahler - § 44/1
A7-0358/2013 - Michael Gahler - § 44/2
A7-0358/2013 - Michael Gahler - § 46/1
A7-0358/2013 - Michael Gahler - § 46/2
A7-0358/2013 - Michael Gahler - § 47
A7-0358/2013 - Michael Gahler - § 48/1
A7-0358/2013 - Michael Gahler - § 48/2
A7-0358/2013 - Michael Gahler - § 49
A7-0358/2013 - Michael Gahler - § 51
A7-0358/2013 - Michael Gahler - § 52
A7-0358/2013 - Michael Gahler - Résolution
2013/09/13 IMCO 33 amendments...
1. Points out that the recent economic downturn has led to a number of reductions in the defence budgets of the majority of Member Statmany Member States; considers that the current crisis can be used as an opportunity for the development of an integrated Union defence policy, as it can provide the impetus for implementing ambitious and outstanding reforms and for better benefitting from synergies;
1a. Believes that the Union should provide security for its citizens and support democracy, human rights and the rule of law in its neighbourhood and beyond; however, considers that this can be done without expanding the common defence policy
1a. Urges the Member States to increase transparency levels with regard to state aid and procurement practices in the defence sector, towards European authorities and agencies as well as towards the general public;
1b. Recalls the tradition of the Union as a civilian power in global affairs; reiterates therefore that the European defence industry should first and foremost focus on the demand from the internal market; deplores in this context the increase in trade in arms and defence equipment emanating from the Union with autocratic regimes in unstable world regions; notes that these trade practices might not be conducive to the security of citizens in regions receiving arms and defence equipment from the Union as well as to European and global security considerations; urges the Member States to act in international fora in favour of more transparency in international defence procurement markets in order to increase the controllability of global trade flows in armament;
2. Recalls that, in order to increase the competitiveness of the European defence industry, Member States urgently need to increasmprove the transparency and increase the openness of their defence markets; considers that Directive 2009/81/EC on defence and sensitive security procurement strengthens the single market by reducing the complexity of procurement rules in the defence sector;
2. Recalls that, in order to increase the competitiveness of the European defence industry, Member States urgently need to increase the transparency and openness of their defence markets; considers that Directive 2009/81/EC on defence and sensitive security procurement strengthens the single market by reducing the complexity of procurement rules in the defence sector; where appropriate, while taking into consideration the increasing complexity of defence procurement in relation to international missions resulting in optimized specifications;'
2. Recalls that, in order to increase the competitiveness of the European defence industry, Member States urgently need great effort has already been made to iencrease the transparency and openness ofourage intra-Union trade in their defence markets; considers thasector; therefore calls on Members States to fully implement Directive 2009/81/EC on defence and sensitive security procurement in order to strengthens the single market by reducing the complexity of procurement rules in the defence sector and to increase the competitiveness of the European defence industry; emphasises that a transparent and open single market for defence procurement is vital not only to ensure best available products but also to ensure best value for taxpayers money;
2. Recalls that, in order to increase the competitiveness of the European defence industry, Member States urgently need to increase the transparency and openness of their defence markets; considers that Directive 2009/81/EC on defence and sensitive security procurement strengthens the single market by reducing the complexity of procurement rules in the defence sector;
2. Recalls that, in order to increase the competitiveness of the European defence industry, Member States urgently need to increase the transparency and openness of their defence markets; considers that Directive 2009/81/EC on defence and sensitive security procurement strengthens the single market by reducing the complexity of procurement rules in the defence sector; calls on the Member States to correctly implement Directive 2009/81/EC (deadline for transposition on 21 August 2011).
2. Recalls that, in order to increase the competitiveness of the European defence industry, Member States urgently need to increase the transparency and openness of their defence markets; considers that Directive 2009/81/EC on defence and sensitive security procurement strengthens the single market by reducing the complexity of procurement rules in the defence sector; moreover points out that the common security and defence policy has to be further promoted and synchronised, in order to define the level of ambition for the European armed forces, deduce a corresponding composition of forces and allocate the capabilities among the Member States, thereby facilitating the standardisation of equipment and the specification of industrial foci;
3. Stresses that greater use of innovative procurement techniques – especially including those related to the aggregation of requirements, use of ICT and incentives- setting for R&D – should be encouraged in defence procurement, as they may be particularly suited to this field and can play a major role in reducing the administratiove burden and costs related to procurement procedures;
3. Stresses that greater use of innovative procurement techniques – especially including those related to the aggregation of requirements, use of ICT and incentives- setting for R&D – should be encouraged in defence procurement, as they may be particularly suited to this field and can play a major role in reducing the administration and costs related to procurement procedures, while at the same time the protection of intellectual property rights and know-how needs to be ensured;
3. Stresses that greater use of innovative procurement techniques – especially including those related to the aggregation of requie- procurement, and pre-commercial procurements, use of ICT andas well as incentives-setting for R&D – should be encouraged in defence procurement, as they may be particularly suited to this field and can play a major role in reducing the administration and costs related to procurement procedures;
3. Stresses that greater use of innovative procurement techniques – especially including those related to the aggregation of requirements, use of ICT and incentives- setting for R&D – should be encouraged in defence procurement, as they may be particularly suited to this field and can play a major role in reducing the administration and costs related to procurement procedures; urges the Member States to make strategic use of defence public procurement and implement innovative awarding principles based on the concept of the Most Economically Advantageous Tender encompassing environmental, social, ethical and quality aspects as well as a life-cycle approach;
3a. Considers that contracting authorities and entities in the fields of defence and security should have access to a specific procurement procedure in respect of contracts where there is a need for the development of an innovative product or service or innovative works and the subsequent purchase of the resulting supplies, services or works which cannot be met by solutions already available on the market; considers furthermore that such a procedure would improve the functioning of the internal market and the development of a European defence equipment market, a European defence technological and industrial base and would drive growth for innovative SMEs; underlines that such a procedure has already been agreed in the revised Classic and Utilities Procurement Directives, allowing contracting authorities to establish a long-term innovation partnership for the development and subsequent purchase of new, innovative products, services or works, providing the necessary 'market-pull' and incentivising the development of an innovative solution without foreclosing the market; calls therefore on the European Commission to take these developments into account in its implementation report to the European Parliament and the Council under Defence Procurement Directive (Directive 2009/81/EC), which is due by 21 August 2016, and to accompany this report with a legislative proposal amending Directive 2009/81/EC, introducing the innovation partnerships procedure for those contracts;
4. Urges the Member States to also take steps to abolish the duplication and excess capacity in the sector through boosting cooperation in the internal market; highlights the potential benefits of joint procurement in terms of economies of scale and interoperability; points out that shared projects will reduce costs and allow for long term investments;
4a. Highlights the importance of efficient public expenditure in the defence sector; encourages the Member States, against the background of the current social and economic crisis as well as strained public finances, to scrutinise public defence expenditure and reallocate savings potential in the defence sector in favour of public investments in social economies and civilian industries;
5. Recalls that the contracts awarded in the field of defence and security are often technically complex; stresses that in order to facilitate cross-border tendering there is a need to review incompatible or disproportionate technical requirements so as to minimise and, where possible, eliminate incompatible or disproportionate requirements constituting barriers to the Sinternal mgle Market;
5. Recalls that the contracts awarded in the field of defence and security are often technically complex; stresses that in order to facilitate cross-border tendering there is a need to review - where appropriate - unnecessary, incompatible or disproportionate technical requirements so as to minimise and, where possible, eliminate barriers to the internal market;
5a. Stresses that promoting the European defence technological and industrial base is a further element towards to the completion of the Single Market and can create sustainable jobs for citizens employed in the defence industries;
5a. Stresses that liberalisation of non- sensitive national programmes not including nuclear power and weapons, complex weapons system, or complex communications, detection and stealth systems would increase competition and lower prices as defence companies across the Union could compete for contracts; points out that if Member States will not change the national procurement processes, the Commission will have to rely on case law for non-sensitive programmes;
5a. Requests that costly military prestige projects be abandoned and calls on Member States to particularly support the development of products that ensure the protection and safety of the soldiers in the field.
5a. Points out that specific, sometimes even useless, technical demands in invitations to tenders are particularly targeted to exclude foreign companies, in order to increase the financial and technical abilities of the national defence industry;
5b. Emphasizes that so far additional formalities have not proven to diminish this effect in the defence industry sector, but rather to increase it as well as the associated costs and time for the contracting parties, therefore effectively reducing the competitiveness of the European defence industry;
5c. Concludes that, based on developments in Lybia, Mali and Syria and despite the existing common security and defence policy, sovereign nations clearly tend to have sovereign defence interests and hence keep their technological know-how and their defence industry also as sovereign as possible; calls on the Commission to take these important aspects into consideration for the proposal of new or the abolishment of existing formalities in order to effectively increase the competitiveness of the European defence industry;
7. Notes that the fragmentation of the European defence market is an obstacle to small and medium-sized enterprises increasing their share in this marketto market their products; emphasises the importance of possibilities for small and medium-sized enterprises to take part in the process ofcontribute to the creatingon of defence equipment sector products; urges the Commission, therefore, to adoppresent further proposals to facilitate their access to the European defence industry;
7. Notes that the fragmentation of the European defence market is an obstacle to small and medium-sized enterprises increasing their share in this market; emphasises the importance of possibilities for small and medium-sized enterprises to take part in the process of creating defence equipment sector products, both military equipment and intangibles such as software and technology; urges the Commission, therefore, to adopt further proposals to facilitate their access to the European defence industry;
7. Notes that the fragmentation of the European defence market is an obstacle to small and medium-sized enterprises increasing their share in this market; emphasises the importance of possibilities for small and medium-sized enterprises to take part in the process of creating defence equipment sector products; urges the Commission, therefore, to adopt further proposals to facilitate their access to the European defence industry; emphasizes that the creation of additional Union standards and certifications might be detrimental for the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises as they often do not have the ability to invest upfront for years and the costs for qualification and certification already tend to constitute a considerable amount of the overall development costs for new defence products;
7a. Urges the Member States to inspire cooperation between major defence companies and universities; emphasises that the knowledge base of universities can be widened through this cooperation;
7a. Calls on the Member States and the Commission to facilitate efforts of exploiting technologies and innovation emanating from the defence industry for non-military purposes and the production of civilian products and applications in order to strengthen high-technology industries within the internal market;
7a. Stresses the need for greater funding for R&D in Member States to successfully compete with third countries' manufacturers in defence sector; notes that innovation and technological developments can lead to improvements in other areas of life;
7b. Deplores the strong emphasis in Commission Communication of 24 July 2013 'Towards a more competitive and efficient defence and security sector1 on labour flexibility schemes as the appropriate response to structural changes within the defence industry; instead draws attention to the assessment of potential economic incentives for the conversion of military-industrial overcapacities into civilian production; ____________________________ 1 COM(2013) 542 final.
8. Calls on the Commission and Member States to cooperate with one another to ensure cyber-security, as an integral part of the defence sectorone of the major pillars of the defence and security strategy; recalls at the same time that, given the global dimension of the internet, the digital internal market faces growing security risks and a strong and coordinated approach could contribute to combating threats such as to the security of transactions, which seriously undermine consumers' confidence in the digital market.
source: PE-519.497
2013/09/25 AFET 66 amendments...
1. Recalls that an operational Common Security and Defence Policy needse importance of a strong European defence technological and industrial base (EDTIB), constituting a key element for Europe's capacityin the capacity of European Nations to ensure the security of itstheir citizens, protect its values and promote its interests;
1a. Points out that the defence sector is a major source of jobs, growth and innovation at European level; stresses the importance of adopting an ambitious EDTIB policy;
1a. Recalls that a strong European defence industry has the added advantage of providing jobs, boosting economic growth and fostering innovation, key features for European stability and security;
2a. Notes that while some third countries such as China, India, Brazil or Russia are increasing their defence spending, EU defence budgets are being cut back.
3. Draws attention to the changing strategic global landscape, reduced defence budgets, the quickening pace of technological development and the fact that European defence companies are adjusting to this situation by putting an emphasis on exports to third countries, at the cost of transferring sensitive technologies, and intellectual property rights, and moving production outside the EU; is concerned about the reductions in defence investment which will increasingly expose the EDTIB to the risk of being controlled and constrained in its activities by third powers with different strategic interests;
3. Draws attention to the changing strategic global landscape, and reduced defence budgets and welcomes the fact that European defence companies are adjusting to this situation by putting an emphasis on exports to third countries, at the cost of transferringbut cautions the need to protect sensitive technologies, and intellectual property rights, and moving production outside the EU; is concerned about the reductions in defence investment which will increasingly expose the EDTIB to the risk of being controlled and constrained in its activities by third powers with different strategic interests;
3. Draws attention to the changing strategic global landscape, reduced defence budgets, caused especially by the economic and financial crisis, and the fact that European defence companies are adjusting to this situation by putting an emphasis on exports to third countries, at the cost of transferring sensitive technologies, and intellectual property rights, and moving production outside the EU; is concerned about the reductions in defence investment which will increasingly expose the EDTIB to the risk of being controlled and constrained in its activities by third powers with different strategic interests;
3. Draws attention to the changing strategic global landscape, reduced defence budgets and the fact that European defence companies are adjusting to this situation by putting an emphasis on exports to third countries, at the cost of transferring sensitive technologies, and intellectual property rights, and moving production outside the EU; is concerned about the reductions in defence investment which will at the expense of European small and medium-sized enterprises; is concerned about the reductions in defence investment and calls on the Member States, the EDA and the Commission to take countermeasures in response to the increasingly exposeure of the EDTIB in future to the risk of being controlled and constrained in its activities by third powers with different strategic interests;
3a. Reminds the EU Member States, the VP/HR, the European Commission, and the European Defence Agency that more than two decades after the Cold War and after having been able to take advantage of relatively high national defence budgets the EU Member States were not able to fulfil the Helsinki Headline Goals and other joint military capability development objectives; therefore questions the argument that current cuts in national defence budgets might automatically lead to capability gaps for CSDP and weaken the CSDP because these capabilities do not yet exist due to past failures;
Luis YÁÑEZ-BARNUEVO GARCÍA, Teresa RIERA MADURELL
3a. Recalls that if Europe wishes to maintain a solid security and defence industry its Member States need to coordinate their defence budgets to avoid duplication and to strengthen their joint research programmes;
4. Stresses that with the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty the EU's industrial, space and research policies extend to the defence remit; points out that Union programmes in other areas such as internal and border security, disaster management and development offer a significant prospect of jointly developing capabilities relevant to those policies and to the conduct of CSDP missions;deleted
4. Stresses that with the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty the EU’s industrial, space and research policies extend to the defence remit; pPoints out that Union programmes in other areas such as internal and border security, disaster management and development offer a significant prospect of jointly developing capabilities relevant to those policies and to the conduct of CSDP missions;
4. Stresses that with the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty the EU’s industrial, space and research policies extend to the defence remit; Nevertheless recalls that Horizon 2020 – The Framework Programme for Research and Innovation will focus solely on the development of civilian applications1; points out that Union programmes in other areas such as internal and border security, disaster management and development offer a significant prospect of jointly developing capabilities relevant to those policies and to the conduct of CSDP missions; __________________ 1 Article 16 of the Regulation (EU) No .../2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing Horizon 2020 - The Framework Programme for Research and innovation (2014-2020)
4. Stresses that with the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty the EU's industrial, space and research policies extend to the defence remit; points out that Union programmes in other areas such as internal and border security, disaster management and development offer a significant prospect of jointly developing capabilities relevant to those policies and to the conduct of CSDP missions;
5. Recalls the need to make progress in consolidating the EDTIB, givennotes that – in the face of the increasing sophistication and costs of technologies, growing international competition and decreasing defence budgets and production volumes – it is no longer possible in any of the Member States for the defence industry to be sustainable on a strictly national basis; regrets the fact that, while a certain level of concentration has been achieved in the European aerospace industries, the land and naval equipment sectors are still overwhelmingly fragmented along national lines, there is continued scope for multi- national defence projects, ideally involving a small number of partners and without any need for involvement of the institutions of the EU;
5. Recalls the need to make progress in consolidating the EDTIB in a manner which is sustainable and which takes account of the interests of SMEs, given that – in the face of the increasing sophistication and costs of technologies, growing international competition and decreasing defence budgets and production volumes – it is no longer possible in any of the Member States for the defence industry to be sustainable on a strictly national basis; regrets the fact that, while a certain level of concentration has been achieved in the European aerospace industries, the land and naval equipment sectors are still overwhelmingly fragmented along national lines;
Janusz ZEMKE, Krzysztof LISEK
5a. Maintains that the construction of a European defence industry should be carried out in a sustainable manner, in all Member States, on the basis of existing industrial infrastructure, and not solely according to the principle of free competition;
6. Notes the Commission Communication of 24 July 2013 and the EEAS draft report; considers it regrettable that the Commission and the EEAS did not issue a joint European declaration in preparation for the European Council's defence summit in December of this year;deleted
6. Notes the Commission Communication of 24 July 2013 and the EEAS draft report; considers it regrettable that the Commission Communication did not specify the mechanisms that would ensure the equitable development of the defence industry in all parts of the European Union; considers it similarly regrettable that the Commission and the EEAS did not issue a joint European declaration in preparation for the European Council’s defence summit in December of this year;
7. Recalls that the Commission and EU defence ministers already underlined the need for urgent action in this field in 2007 with a dedicated Commission Communication and the EDA's EDTIB strategy; regrets the lost opportunities regularly to submit implementation reports and update strategies following the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty; considers it regrettable that the new communication does not take stock of previous strategies; calls for the Commission and the EDA to develop a joint EDTIB strategy in the future, based on past experiences;deleted
7a. Considers in an own broad assessment that both strategies have been insufficiently implemented because of the lack of a common understanding of EDTIB resulting from differing national and industrial interests, the persistence of established national habits in the armaments sectors; takes note of the fact that there are Member States with no own national defence industry and/or niche industries trying to get globally best value for money, with less competitive defence industries favouring national alimentation suppliers as well as with potent national defence industries accepting strong global competition;
8. Welcomes the European Council's decision to put the strengthening of Europe's defence on the agenda for its December summit; calls on the European Council to provide the necessary fresh impetus for supporting a truly European defence technological and industrial base, which will be capability-driven and will promote synergies, provide for the efficient use of the limited resources, avoid duplication and be integrated and competitive on the global market;
8. Welcomes the European Council’s decision to put the strengthening of Europe’s defence on the agenda for its December summit; calls on the European Council to provide the necessary fresh and ambitious impetus for supporting a truly European defence technological and industrial base, which will be capability- driven and will promote synergies, provide for the efficient use of resources, avoid duplication and be integrated and competitive on the global market;
8. Welcomes the European Council's decision to put the strengthening of Europe's defence on the agenda for its December summit; calls on the European Council to provide the necessary fresh impetus for supporting a truly European defence technological and industrial base, which will be backed by appropriate integrity and trust building measures and which will be capability-driven and will promote synergies, provide for the efficient use of resources, avoid duplication and be integrated and competitive on the global market;
9. Considers it regrettable that past efforts to consolidate demand have not improved the fragmentation of demand in the EU, with 28 national defence customers and an even higher number of customers of products for civilian and military use; regretnotes the limited results of the EDA's Capability Development Plan; calls, therefore, on the European Council to launch a European defence review process and make the coordination of national defence planning processes at EU level a reality; based on this assessment, calls on the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to initiate a wide-ranging process to develop a White Paper on Security and Defence in order to streamline the EU's strategic ambitions and capability development processes;
9. Considers it regrettable that past efforts to consolidate demand have not improved the fragmentation of demand in the EU, with 28 national defence customers and an even higher number of customers of products for civilian and military use; regrets the limited results of the EDA’s Capability Development Plan; calls, therefore, on the European Council to launch a European defence review process and make the coordination of national defence planning processes at EU level a reality; based on this assessment, calls on the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to initiate a wide-ranging process to develop a White Paper on Security and Defence in order to streamline the EU’s strategic ambitions and capability development processes;
9. Considers it regrettable that past efforts to consolidate demand have not improved the fragmentation of demand in the EU, with 28 national defence customers and an even higher number of customers of products for civilian and military use; regrets the limited results of the EDA’s Capability Development Plan; calls, therefore, on the European Council to launch a European defence review process and make the coordination of national defence planning processes at EU level a reality; based on this assessment, calls on the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to initiate a wide-ranging process to develop a White Paper on European Security and Defence in order to streamline the EU’s strategic ambitions and capability development processes;
Motion for a resolutionParagraph 9 - subparagraph 1 (new)
Notes the work of the NATO defence planning process, through which members of the Alliance, including 26 European Allies, coordinate - where appropriate - to ensure the right defence capabilities are developed and maintained to address future challenges; notes that NATO has long recognised the need for close cooperation with industry, not least to assist the development of military capability requirements, especially regarding standardisation and interoperability, while fostering transatlantic defence technological and industrial cooperation;
10. Calls on the Member States to synchronise and jointly plan the life-cycle management of their defence capabilities; considers that a common European capabilities and armaments policy would be a prerequisite for turning the harmonisation of military requirements into harmonised equipment acquisition among Member States, thus creating the conditions for a successful demand driven transnational restructuring of the defence industry in the EU;deleted
10. Calls on the Member States to further explore the possibility of synchroniseing and jointly planning the life-cycle management of their defence capabilities; considers that a common European capabilities and armaments polichigher degree of synergy wcould be a prerequisite for turning the harmonisation of military requirements into harmonised equipment acquisition among Member States, thus creating the conditions for a successful demand driven transnational restructuring of the defence industry in the EU; recognises the potential of the defence sector in creating jobs and thus enhancing EU's efforts in reducing unemployment;
10. Calls on the Member States to synchronise and jointly plan the life-cycle management of their defence capabilities in cooperation with the EDA; considers that a common European capabilities and armaments policy would be a prerequisite for turning the harmonisation of military requirements into harmonised equipment acquisition among Member States, thus creating the conditions for a successful demand driven transnational restructuring of the defence industry in the EU;
10a. Considers that the EU should fully integrate its defence policy and industry and create new synergies between the EU’s R+D initiatives outside the sphere of defence, space R+D, and security and defence R+D.
10a. Supports the EDA in its endeavour to promote regional clusters;
11a. Emphasises that a common system of standardisation and certification would be of benefit to European companies, including SMEs, as it would improve their access to European and international markets, create employment and expand their access to EU funding.
12. Recalls that there is a proliferation of competing industrial standards for civilian and military products; calls on the Commission to develop promorte industrialcommon standards with the early integration of military aspects provided by the EDA; calls on the Member States to ensure that their future steps to set defence standards are based on the civilian suggestions made by the Commission and European standardisation organisations;
12. Recalls that there is a proliferation of competing industrial standards for civilian and military products; calls on the Commission to develop more industrial standards with the early integration of military aspects provided by the EDAregrets the limited success of the implementation of NATO's standardization agreements (STANAG) and recommendations (STANREC); calls on the Commission and EDA to promote the use of common standards in defence and to develop 'hybrid standards' in dual- use areas; calls on the Member States to ensure that their future steps to set defence standards are based on the civilian suggestions made by the Commission and European standardisation organisations;
12. Recalls that there is a proliferation of competing industrial standards for civilian and military products; calls on the Commission to develop more industrial standards with the early integration of military aspects provided by the EDA; calls on the Member States to ensure that their future steps to set defence standards are based on the civilian suggestions made by the Commission and European standardisation organisations;deleted
12. Recalls that there is a proliferation of competing industrial standards for civilian and military products; calls on the Commission to develop more industrial standards withCalls on the Commission to develop a coherent set of framework standards facilitating the early integration of military aspects provided by the EDA; calls on the Member States to ensure that their future steps to set defence standards are based on the civilian suggestions made by the Commission and European standardisation organisations;
13. Calls on the Member States to streamline European certification procedures with the mutual recognition of certificates and the future development of common civilian and military European certification procedures;
14. Highlights, in the context of the industry's restructuring, the importance of ensuring that security of supply is not put at risk; calls on the Member States, EDA and the Commission rapidly to develop a comprehensive and ambitious EU-wide security-of-supply regime based on a system of mutual guarantees, possibly using the legal basis of permanent structured cooperation;
14. Highlights, in the context of thany defence industry'sial restructuring, the importance of ensuring that security of supply is not put at risk; calls on the Member States and the Commission rapidly to develop a comprehensive and ambitious EU-wide security-of-supply regime based on a system of mutual guarantees, possibly using the legal basis of permanent structured cooperation;
14a. Calls on the Member States to provide the European Defence Agency with a single purchasing budget serving all the member countries, and for the timetable and scope of military requirements to be harmonised.
16. Calls on the EDA and the Commission to submit a joint non-dependency strategy on critical technologies, in particular as regards unlimited access to and availability of civilian and military (dual-use) emerging and key enabling technologies, such as cutting-edge micro-/nano- electronics, artificial intelligence and photonics, which must be considered as critical to CSDP missions;
17. Encourages the Member States to address the industrial overcapacities that result from declining demand by launching new joint projects, and in particular to develop key enablers with civil-military applications such as remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS), fostering the development of high technologies and helping sustain key competencies within Europe; encourages EU participation in joint projects through theleasing and/or acquisition of dual-use capabilities and the possible procurement of prototypes;
17a. Encourages the Member States to explore the possibilities offered by the European Defence Agency (EDA) in terms of drafting European standards for military products and applications; e.g. for the construction of hospital ships or in the field of remote-controlled aerial systems.
19. Calls on the European Council to enable the EDA fully to assume its institutional role; reiterates the urgent need for Member States to provide the EDA with adequate funding for the full range of its missions and tasks; takes the view that this would best be done by financing the Agency's staffing and running costs from the Union budget, starting with the forthcoming multiannual financial framework;deleted
19. Calls on the European Council to enable the EDA fully to assume its institutional role; reiterates the urgent need for Member States to provide the EDA with adequate funding for the full range of its missions and tasks; takes the view that this would best be done by financing the Agency’s staffing and running costs from the Union budget, starting with the forthcoming multiannual financial framework;
19. Calls on the European Council to enable the EDA fully to assume its institutional role; reiterates the urgent need for Member States to provide the EDA with adequate funding for the full range of its missions and tasks; takes the view that this would best be done by financing the Agency's staffing and running costs from the Union budget, starting with the forthcoming multiannual financial framework;
19. Calls on the European Council to enable the EDA fully to assume its institutional role as outlined in articles 42 (3) and 45 TEU; reiterates the urgent need for Member States to provide the EDA with adequate funding for the full range of its missions and tasks; takes the view that this would best be done by financing the Agency's staffing and running costs from the Union budget, starting with the forthcoming multiannual financial framework;
19. Calls on the European Council to enable the EDA fully to assume its institutional role by giving it the necessary resources; reiterates the urgent need for Member States to provide the EDA with adequate funding for the full range of its missions and tasks; takes the view that this would best be done by financing the Agency’s staffing and running costs from the Union budget, starting with the forthcoming multiannual financial framework;
19a. Recalls that opening the EU budget for defence research or for procuring military goods and technology represents a strategic mistake as introducing fresh money would only prolong the current structural deficits such as inefficiency, duplication, corruption and the procurement of useless military goods and technology;
20. Welcomes the Commission's intention to launch a preparatory action for EU- funded research in support of CSDP missions and invites the Commission to make a specific proposal as a precursor to such programmes early in the forthcoming multiannual financial framework;deleted
21. Considers that EDTIB-related defence research and innovation remains on a valid ethical basis; notes that a whole chapter of the Treaty of Lisbon is devoted to the common security and defence policy, which includes defence technology research and the framing of a common Union defence; calls on the Member States and EDA to significantly increase quantity and quality of joint research and development projects;
21. Considers that EDTIB-related defence research and innovation remains on a valid ethical basis; notes that a whole chapter of the Treaty of Lisbon is devoted to the common security and defence policy, which includes defence technology research and the framing of a common Union defence;deleted
22. Encourages the EDA to build on its track record of successful joint investment programmes and to work in liaison with the Commission in order to launch research and development programmes, based on Article 185 TFEU;
22a. Calls on the EDA and the Member States to support more innovative joint programmes, such as the Air to Air Refuelling and the Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems ones, with a need to focus on highly cost effective, new generation technologies which are sorely lacking in the majority of EU Member States;
23. CStresses the specific nature of defence procurement, pointing out that it affects vital national security interests and cannot therefore be placed on the same footing as other sectors; calls on the Member States and the Commission to make sure that the 2009 directives on defence procurement and transfers are correctly and coherently applied, in particular with regard to any exemptions from EU rules under Article 346 TFEU;« urges the Commission to step up efforts to build a level playing field in the defence market, limiting the use of market distorting practices to the strict minimum of duly justified derogations; points out, in particular, the need to strengthen state aid control;
23a. Is concerned by the fact that a number of Member States are preparing to buy used F-16 fighter jets without giving European companies a fair chance to compete; considers that such a practice stands in contrast to the objective of the European Council to strengthen the European Defence Industrial Base; reminds these Member States of the need to implement the principles of non- discrimination and transparency as laid down in the Treaty of Lisbon also to government-to-government sales;
23a. Takes the view that small and medium-sized enterprises, which design and manufacture many innovative products, play a vital part in maintaining and consolidating the EDTIB;
23b. Calls on the Member States, the EDA and the Commission to work together to develop ways and means of consolidating small and medium-sized enterprises and facilitating their access to defence procurement;
24. Calls on the Member States, the EDA and the Commission to work together towards the gradual phasing-out of offset requirements, while fostering the integration of smaller Member States’ industries into the European defence technological and industrial base by means other than offsets;deleted
24. Calls on the Member States, the EDA and the Commission to work together towards the gradual phasing-out of offset requirements, while fostering the integration of smaller Member States' industries into the European defence technological and industrial base by means other than offsets; encourages Member States in particular to make full use of the Directives provisions on subcontracting and General Licences to achieve this objective;
24a. Calls on the Member States, the EDA and the Commission to devote particular attention to the development of SMEs in the field of defence technology and industrial development;
25a. Calls for an urgent restructuring of European companies to overcome national barriers and adopt a global outlook.
26a. Calls on the Member States to give preference, when exploring large scale defence technology acquisitions, to intra- EU projects or joint schemes, or European based new technologies, which can both foster more European trade, increased cooperation and at the same time competition on the quality and prices of the global defence market;
source: PE-516.909
CELEX:52013DC0542:EN
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/registre/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2013/0542/COM_COM(2013)0542_EN.pdf
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2013/0542/COM_COM(2013)0542_EN.pdf
nameZEMKE Janusz
nameBÜTIKOFER Reinhard
nameLÖSING Sabine
nameGAHLER Michael
committee_fullIndustry, Research and Energy (Associated committee)
nameAUDY Jean-Pierre
urlhttp://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML〈uage=EN&reference=PE516.829
titlePE516.829
urlhttp://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML〈uage=EN&reference=PE516.909
titlePE516.909
nameZEMKE Janusz Władysław
urlhttp://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=23638&l=en
urlhttp://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA〈uage=EN&reference=P7-TA-2013-0514
The European Parliament adopted by 415 votes to 103
with 67 abstentions, a resolution on the European Defence
Technological and Industrial Base.
Parliament recalled that the development of a
strong European defence technological and industrial base
(EDTIB) should be part of the strategic priorities of the EU. It
welcomed the European Council's decision to put the strengthening
of Europe's defence on the agenda for its December summit and
called on the European Council to provide the necessary fresh and
ambitious impetus in this area.
Reduction in budgets and investment: Parliament drew attention to the changing strategic
global landscape, and to reduced defence budgets, caused especially
by the economic and financial crisis. While some third countries
such as China, India, Brazil and Russia are increasing their
defence spending, EU defence budgets are being cut back.
In this context, the resolution urged Member
States to reinforce European industrial
cooperation with a view to ensuring, as far as
possible, strategic autonomy by developing and producing
efficient military and security capabilities using the most
Harmonisation of requirements and consolidation of
demand: in view of the fragmentation of demand in the EU, with 28
national defence customers, Parliament calls on the European
Council to launch a European defence review process and asked the
VP/HR to initiate a wide-ranging process to develop a White Paper
on European Security and Defence.
Member States are asked to make the coordination of
national defence planning processes at EU level a reality and
to explore the possibility of synchronising the life-cycle
management of their defence capabilities in cooperation with the
European Defence Agency (EDA).
Industrial policy: according to Members, a European
industrial defence policy should have the aim of · optimising Member
States capabilities by coordinating the development,
deployment and maintenance of a range of capabilities,
installations, equipment and services;
· promote research and
technology cooperation and by developing equipment cooperation
In acting on the fragmentation of the European
industrial defence market, Parliament believed that it was time to
promote a voluntary approach as regards supply and demand
rules and standards. It also stated that it was time to invest
in an integrated sustainable industrial policy based on
research, innovation, increasing efficiency of resources, a
strategy for raw materials, the strengthening of SMEs and the
development of regional networks.
Member States were invited
· develop their defence
industrial and technological bases and centres of excellence
around key technologies;
· encourage cooperation between major
defence companies and universities;
· minimise unnecessary
regulatory obstacles, to improve dialogue between defence
undertakings and to promote
the rationalisation.
standardisation and certification: Members reiterated the fundamental importance
of standardisation of defence equipment for the establishment of a
competitive single European defence market, as well as for ensuring
interoperability and facilitating cooperation on armaments
Member States were encouraged
· explore the possibilities
offered by the EDA in terms of drafting European standards
for military products and applications, for example for the
construction of hospital ships;
· streamline European
certification procedures, with the mutual recognition of
Ensuring security of
Parliament called on Member States, the EDA and the
· to rapidly develop
a comprehensive and ambitious EU-wide security-of-supply
· to submit a non-dependency
strategy on critical technologies, in particular as regards
unlimited access to and availability of civilian and military
(dual-use) emerging and key enabling technologies, such as
cutting-edge micro-/nano-electronics, artificial intelligence and
Giving a new impetus to armaments
· recommended developing key
enablers with civil-military applications, which are sorely lacking
in the majority of the Member States, such as some remotely piloted
aircraft systems (RPAS);
· encouraged EU participation
in joint projects through leasing and/or acquisition of dual-use
capabilities and the possible procurement of prototypes;
· urged the European Council
to strengthen the existing administrative arrangement between the
EDA and the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation
(OCCAR).
Furthermore, the resolution stressed the need
· support CSDP missions
through European research and development using the Horizon 2020 research
· establish an appropriate
platform for bringing defence research to the civilian
· maintain the excellence of
this technologically innovative and efficient industry in order to
ensure the technological independence of the European
· increase cooperation between
the European Union and its key partners for the safety and security
of infrastructure and technology. Members wanted to see the
development of cyber-security standards and the integration of
these with international standards.
Strengthening the internal market
in defence equipment: Parliament invited Member States
to improve the transparency and increase the openness of
their defence markets, while stressing the specific nature of
defence procurement. It also invited the Commission to step up
efforts to build a level playing field in the defence market,
limiting the use of market-distorting practices to the strict
minimum of duly justified derogations.
titleT7-0514/2013
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PE516.829
PE516.909
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML〈uage=EN&reference=PE516.829
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML〈uage=EN&reference=PE516.909
The Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted the report by
Michael GAHLER (EPP, DE) on the European Defence Technological and
Industrial Base, in response to the Commission communication
Towards a more competitive and efficient defence
and security sector.
The Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, in
exercising its prerogatives as an associated committee in
accordance with Article 50 of Parliaments Rules of
Procedure, was also consulted for an opinion on
Members recalled that an operational Common Security
and Defence Policy needs a strong European defence technological
and industrial base (EDTIB). They welcomed the European
Council's decision to put the strengthening of Europe's defence on
the agenda for its December summit and called on the European
Council to provide the necessary fresh and ambitious impetus in
While some third countries such as China, India,
Brazil and Russia are increasing their defence spending, EU defence
budgets are being cut back.
Concerned about the reductions in defence investment,
the report urged the Member States to reinforce European
industrial cooperation with a view to ensuring, as far as
demand: the report called on the
European Council to launch a European defence review process and
make the coordination of national defence planning processes at
EU level a reality. Member States are invited to further
explore the possibility of synchronising and jointly planning the
life-cycle management of their defence capabilities in cooperation
with the European Defence Agency (EDA).
according to Members, a European industrial defence policy should
have the aim of optimising Member States capabilities
by coordinating the development, deployment and maintenance of a
range of capabilities, installations, equipment and services. It should also promote research and technology cooperation and by
developing equipment cooperation programmes.
The report stated that it is time to promote a
voluntary approach in acting on the fragmentation of the
European industrial defence market, furthering its
consolidation (and initiating harmonisation) as regards supply and
demand, rules and standards.
develop their defence industrial and technological
bases and centres of excellence around key technologies, and
provide them with effective corporate governance mechanisms within
encourage cooperation between major defence
companies and universities;
minimise unnecessary regulatory obstacles, to
improve dialogue between defence undertakings and to promote the
develop ways and means of consolidating small and
medium-sized enterprises in a sustainable manner and of
facilitating their access to defence procurement.
Common approach to standardisation and
certification: Members reiterated the
fundamental importance of standardisation of defence equipment for
the establishment of a competitive single European defence market,
as well as for ensuring interoperability and facilitating
cooperation on armaments programmes.
explore the possibilities offered by the European
Defence Agency (EDA) in terms of drafting European standards for
military products and applications, for example for the
construction of hospital ships or in the field of remote-controlled
aerial systems;
streamline European certification
procedures, with the mutual
recognition of certificates and the development of common civilian
and military European certification procedures.
Ensuring security of supply: Member States, the EDA and the Commission are
invited to rapidly develop a comprehensive and ambitious EU-wide
security-of-supply regime, and to submit a joint non-dependency
cooperation: the report recommended
developing key enablers with civil-military applications, which are
sorely lacking in the majority of the Member States, such as some
remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS), fostering the development
of high technologies and helping sustain key competencies within
It encouraged EU participation in joint projects
through leasing and/or acquisition of dual-use capabilities and the
possible procurement of prototypes.
The European Council is urged, against the background
of the existing administrative arrangement between the EDA and the
Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR).
The report also highlighted the need: to support CSDP missions through European research and
development: Members
emphasised the importance of research and innovation in the
security and defence sector and of the Horizon 2020 research
programme and invited the Member States to establish an appropriate
sphere, with a focus on cutting-edge technological
to maintain the excellence of this technologically
innovative and efficient industry in order to ensure the
technological independence of the European Union;
for greater cooperation and exchange of know-how among
Member States, on the one hand, and between the European Union and
its key partners, on the other; for the safety and security of
to develop European ICT and cyber-security standards
and integrating them with international standards.
Strengthening the internal market in defence
equipment: Members recalled that
Member States urgently need to improve the transparency and
increase the openness of their defence markets, while stressing
the specific nature of defence procurement. The Commission is urged
to step up efforts to build a level playing field in the defence
market, limiting the use of market-distorting practices to the
strict minimum of duly justified derogations.
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A7-2013-358〈uage=EN
titleA7-0358/2013
meeting_id3258
urlhttp://www.europarl.europa.eu/ http://register.consilium.europa.eu/servlet/driver?page=Result&typ=Simple&cmsid=638&ff_COTE_DOCUMENT=&ff_TITRE=&ff_SOUS_COTE_MATIERE=&fc=REGAISEN&srm=25&md=400&ssf=DATE_DOCUMENT+DESC&single_comparator=%3D&from_date=&to_date=〈=EN&ff_FT_TEXT=3258&dd_DATE_REUNION=26/09/2013&single_date=26/09/2013
title3258
PURPOSE: to set out an Action Plan for the
Commissions contribution to strengthening the Common Security
and Defence Policy (CSDP).
BACKGROUND: the security challenges the EU is
facing are numerous, complex, interrelated and difficult to
foresee. The strategic and geopolitical environment is rapidly and
constantly evolving. The worlds balance of power is shifting
as new centres of gravity are emerging and the US is rebalancing
its strategic focus towards Asia.
The crisis in public spending induces cuts in defence
budgets. From 2001 to 2010 EU defence
spending declined from 251 billion to 194 billion.
These budget cuts are also having a serious impact on the
industries that develop equipment for our armed forces. They
affect in particular the investment in defence R&D that is
crucial for developing capabilities of the future.
The problem of shrinking defence budgets is aggravated
by the persisting fragmentation of European markets which leads to
unnecessary duplication of capabilities, organisations and
expenditures. This situation necessitates a reorientation of
Defence industry in Europe directly employs about 400
000 people and generates up to another 960 000 indirect jobs. It
is, therefore, a sector that is essential to retain if Europe is to
remain a world-leading centre for manufacturing and innovation. The
constitutes a key element for Europe's capacity to ensure the
security of its citizens and to protect its values and
Europe must be able to assume its responsibilities for
its own security and for international peace and stability in
general. This necessitates a certain degree of strategic
autonomy: to be a credible and reliable partner, Europe must be
able to decide and to act without depending on the capabilities of
third parties. Security of supply, access to critical technologies
and operational sovereignty are therefore crucial.
Defence is still at the heart of national sovereignty
and decisions on military capabilities remain with Member States.
However, the EU does have a significant contribution to
make. With Members States having amongst themselves around 1.6
million soldiers and annual defence budgets of 194 billion
the EU has the capacity to be a strategic actor on the
international stage, in line with its values.
The European Council, in its Conclusions of 14
December 2012, called upon the High Representative, notably through
the European External Action Service and the European Defence
Agency, as well as the Commission, to develop further proposals and
actions to strengthen CSDP and improve the availability of the
required civilian and military capabilities.
CONTENT: this Communication builds on the work of the
Commission's Defence Task Force established in 2011 with the
objective to strengthen the defence sector by mobilising all
relevant EU policies. The European External Action Service (EEAS)
and European Defence Agency (EDA) have been fully associated to the
work of the Task Force and in the preparation of this
This Communication presents a package of measures
aiming to encourage the cooperation between Member States.
It aims to exploit possible synergies and cross-fertilisation which
come from the blurring of the dividing line between defence and
security and between civil and military.
To reach these objectives, the Commission sets out an
Action Plan to strengthen the CSDP in the following
Strengthen the internal market for defence and
security: the Commission has put
forward the two Directives on defence and sensitive security
procurement (2009/81/EC) and transfers
(2009/43/EC), which constitute
today the cornerstone of the European defence market. The
Commission shall also tackle persisting unfair and discriminatory
practices and market distortions as well as develop instruments
which enable Member States to improve the security of supply
EDTIB: to this end, the Commission
will develop a defence industrial policy based on the following
support for competitiveness  including
developing 'hybrid standards' to benefit security and
defence markets and examining the ways to develop a European
certification system for military airworthiness, building on the
civil experience of EASA gained by certifying the Airbus A-400M (in
its civil configuration);
screen raw materials that are critical for the defence sector within the
context of the EUs overall raw materials strategy and
prepare, if necessary, targeted policy actions;
support for SMEs 
including development of a European Strategic Cluster Partnership
to provide links with other clusters and support defence-related
SMEs in global competition;
promote skills identified as essential to the future of the industry
including through the "Sector Skills Alliances" and "Knowledge
Alliances" programmes currently being trialled. In this context,
Member States can use the support that can be provided by the
European Social Fund (ESF) and in certain cases of mass
redundancies also by the European Globalisation Adjustment
Exploiting dual-use potential of research and
reinforcing innovation and reducing the energy
footprint: this concerns exploiting
civilian military synergies to the maximum extent possible in order
to ensure the most efficient use of European tax payers' resources,
concentrating its efforts on possible
cross-fertilisation between civil and military research and the
dual-use potential of space;
assessing the possibility of EU-owned dual-use
capabilities, which may in certain security areas complement
national capabilities and become effective and cost-efficient force
considering launching a preparatory action for
CSDP-related research focusing on those areas where EU defence
capabilities are most needed;
helping armed forces reduce their energy consumption
and thereby contribute to the Unions 20/20/20
The Commission invites the European Council to discuss
this Action Plan in December 2013. On the basis of the discussions
with Heads of State and Government, the Commission will develop for
the areas defined in this Communication a detailed roadmap
with concrete actions and timelines.
urlhttp://www.europarl.europa.eu/registre/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2013/0542/COM_COM(2013)0542_EN.pdf
celexidCELEX:52013DC0542:EN
titleCOM(2013)0542
date2013-07-17
dossier_of_the_committeeAFET/7/12982
reference2013/2125(INI)
titleEuropean defence technogical and industrial base
subject3.40.09 Defence and arms industry