25
Nov
2025
Watch
European Defence Industry Programme and a framework of measures to ensure the timely availability and supply of defence products (‘EDIP’) (debate)
Madam President, the agreement on the leading European programme for the European defence industry EDIP is proof of Parliament's positive involvement in the negotiations. Firstly, unlike SAFE, we have strengthened European preference. We imposed strict eligibility criteria, promoting in practice our independence from third countries. Secondly, we have ensured that not a single euro from the budget goes to infrastructure outside the European Union. Thirdly, we have ensured strict and mandatory guarantees to protect the security interests of the Member States and respect the principle of good neighbourliness as a condition for the participation in the programme of European companies belonging to third countries. Fourthly, we have achieved the universal application of the principle that European money will be directed only to projects where the design authority is European and is not subject to any control by third countries. Fifthly, we provided for the institutionalisation of the European SEAP armaments programmes, European defence projects of common interest, and the creation of the Defence Industry Reinforcement Fund in the FAST programme to facilitate access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises. Sixthly, for the first time we have legislated concrete actions, at European level, in the event that a Member State activates the common defence clause of the European Union, the well-known Article 42(7). Ultimately, the historic EDIP programme underpins the European defence industrial base and the resilience of an adult European Union.