Sittings · Document
On flagship European defence projects of common interest
Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection · Rapporteur: Pierfrancesco Maran
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AMENDMENTS
The Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection submits the following to the Committee on Security and Defence, as the committee responsible :
Amendment 1
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
– having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, in particular Articles 2, 107(3)(b) and 346,
– having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, in particular Articles 2, 107(3)(b), 114 and 346 thereof,
Amendment 2
Motion for a resolution
Citation 13
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
– having regard to the scoping paper of the Commission of 29 September 2025 entitled ‘Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030’,
– having regard to the joint communication from the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of 16 October 2025, entitled ‘Preserving Peace – Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030’ (JOIN(2025)0027),
Amendment 3
Motion for a resolution
Citation 19 a (new)
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
– having regard to the report by Enrico Letta of 17 April 2024 entitled ‘Much more than a market’ and, in particular, the chapter ‘A single market to play big: scale matters’ thereof,
Amendment 4
Motion for a resolution
Citation 23 a (new)
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
– having regard to the Joint Declaration on EU-NATO Cooperation of 10 January 2023,
Amendment 5
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
A. whereas the challenges posed by the decline in global peace and security and the emergence of new and evolving threats to EU security require the EU and its Member States to significantly increase their defence investment in order to develop military and intelligence capabilities that enable them to defend their sovereignty and to act and respond autonomously or in partnership with their allies, particularly within NATO, to immediate and future threats;
A. whereas the challenges posed by the decline in global peace and security and the emergence of new and evolving threats to EU security, in particular since the start of Russia’s illegal and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine, require the EU and its Member States to accelerate and significantly increase their collaborative security and defence investment in order to develop military and intelligence capabilities that enable them to ramp up the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB), defend their sovereignty and territorial integrity, and deter, act and respond in real time autonomously or in partnership with their allies, particularly within NATO, to immediate and future security threats;
Amendment 6
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
B. whereas warfare, historically dominated by conventional weapons, appears to be evolving ‘from steel to web’; whereas it is increasingly incorporating cyber capabilities and networked operations, and warfare strategies are being transformed through new technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) and are no longer limited to massed firepower and large-scale confrontations, but moving towards miniaturisation and decentralisation of systems, as evidenced by the use of drone swarms, AI-enabled weapons, smart mines, and portable missile systems in battlefields; whereas fighter jets, ships, battle tanks and armoured vehicles are becoming more vulnerable to precision strikes and therefore require greater protection, as they are still essential to military operations;
B. whereas warfare, historically dominated by conventional weapons, appears to be evolving ‘from steel to web’; whereas it is increasingly incorporating cyber capabilities and networked operations, and warfare strategies are being transformed through new technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) and are no longer limited to massed firepower and large-scale confrontations, but moving towards miniaturisation and decentralisation of systems, as evidenced by the use of drone swarms, AI-enabled weapons, smart mines, and portable missile systems in battlefields; whereas fighter jets, ships, battle tanks and armoured vehicles are becoming more vulnerable to precision strikes and therefore require greater protection, as they are still essential to military operations; whereas the current pace of technical evolution requires enhanced focus on innovation; whereas collaborative projects in the field of frontier technologies could help to pull resources and know-how together and boost innovation; whereas developing joint innovative partnerships on frontier technologies would substantially strengthen the EDTIB;
Amendment 7
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
B a. whereas violations by Russian drones of the airspace of EU Member States are becoming increasingly frequent, raising serious safety and security concerns; whereas these violations underline the need for a coordinated, united, and proportionate EU response and the need to strengthen the single market for defence, in order to protect citizens and critical infrastructure;
Amendment 8
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
C a. whereas fragmentation of national defence procurement rules, regulatory barriers and limited cross-border competition continue to hinder market integration and weaken the development of a well-functioning EU defence equipment market, which is a key enabler for the establishment and development of a single market for defence; whereas coordinated efforts to reduce fragmentation, improve interoperability and promote cross-industrial cooperation and joint procurement, including through European Defence Projects of Common Interest, are essential to constructing a true single market for defence and strengthening the competitiveness of the EDTIB; whereas the development of a single market for defence and the reinforcement of the EDTIB are key stepping stones towards strengthening the Union’s deterrence, resilience and strategic autonomy and towards a genuine European Defence Union;
Amendment 9
Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
C b. whereas enhanced cooperation and the effective leveraging of economies of scale in European defence spending could generate annual savings estimated at between EUR 18 billion and EUR 57 billion1a and reinforce the competitiveness, resilience and strategic autonomy of the EU and its Member States, advancing progress towards a genuine European Defence Union;
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1a European Parliament: Directorate-General for Parliamentary Research Services, ‘Improving the quality of European defence spending – Cost of non-Europe report’, 2024.
Amendment 10
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
D. whereas the Strategic Compass on Security and Defence sets the objective of developing incentives to stimulate Member States’ collaborative investments in joint projects and the joint procurement of defence capabilities that are developed in a collaborative way within the EU;
D. whereas the Strategic Compass on Security and Defence sets the objective of developing incentives to stimulate Member States’ collaborative investments in joint projects and the joint procurement of defence capabilities that are developed in a collaborative way within the EU; whereas collaborative projects help to reduce costs and prevent Member States from competing for scarce industrial resources;
Amendment 11
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
E. whereas the proposed regulation establishing the EDIP provides for the implementation of European Defence Projects of Common Interest (EDPCI); whereas EDPCI consist of collaborative industrial projects aimed at reinforcing the competitiveness of the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB) throughout the Union, while contributing to the development of Member States’ military capabilities critical for the security and defence interests of the Union, and including those securing access to all operational domains, namely land, maritime, air, space and cyber;
E. whereas the proposed regulation establishing the EDIP provides for the implementation of European Defence Projects of Common Interest (EDPCI); whereas EDPCI consist of collaborative industrial projects aimed at reinforcing the competitiveness and defence industrial readiness of the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB) throughout the Union, while contributing to the development of Member States’ military capabilities critical for the security and defence interests of the Union, and including those securing access to all operational domains, namely land, maritime, air, space and cyber; whereas some of the most critical capability gaps are of an inherently cross-border nature and require coordinated industrial responses at EU level; whereas such projects should generate mutual benefits across Member States by fostering cross-border cooperation and positive spillover effects within the internal market, thereby strengthening cohesion within the EDTIB;
Amendment 12
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
E a. whereas flagship projects are an important opportunity to foster innovation, interoperability and competitiveness in the European defence industry, representing an important step towards strengthening the EDTIB; whereas developing such projects requires additional measures ensuring the creation of a fully functional single market for defence products, which would tackle the most important barriers within the EU;
Amendment 13
Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
E b. whereas, as underscored in the Preserving Peace – Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030, Ukraine remains Europe’s first line of defence and is an integral part of Europe’s defence and security architecture; whereas the EU and its Member States should continue their support for and intensify cooperation with Ukraine; whereas integrating Ukraine’s defence technological and industrial base into the EDPCIs and flagship projects will be a key factor in the successful development of a single market for defence;
Amendment 14
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
1. Acknowledges the significant increase in defence expenditure among EU Member States as a clear reflection of their determination to respond to the deteriorating security environment, by enhancing military capabilities, strengthening deterrence, and reinforcing their collective commitment to European and transatlantic defence; acknowledges also that strengthening Europe’s security and defence requires not merely an increase in national defence spending but a comprehensive shift towards greater coordination, efficiency and integration in the way that Member States develop, resource and implement their defence policies;
1. Acknowledges the significant increase in defence expenditure among EU Member States as a response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine; stresses the importance of this clear reflection of their determination to respond to the deteriorating security environment, after decades of underinvestment in European defence, by enhancing military capabilities, strengthening deterrence, and reinforcing their collective commitment to European and transatlantic defence; acknowledges also that strengthening Europe’s security and defence requires not merely an increase in national defence spending but a comprehensive shift towards greater coordination, efficiency and integration in the way that Member States develop, resource and implement their defence policies; underlines that without the development of a true single market for defence and the strengthening of European defence cooperation, rising national defence spending risks being absorbed by inefficiencies, leading to further fragmentation in the EU; stresses that, in this regard, EDPCIs can contribute to fostering a shift from a predominantly national approach to security towards a shared understanding of collective European security, thereby reinforcing solidarity, trust and strategic cohesion among Member States to prevent fragmentation in the EU, which is necessary; highlights that the development of such collaborative projects is an essential step towards enhancing collaborative defence spending, achieving economies of scale, avoiding duplications, ensuring efficient application of resources, aggregating demand, strengthening the EDTIB, creating a true single market for defence products and services, and paving the way for the development of a genuine European Defence Union;
Amendment 15
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
2. Notes that, despite increased defence efforts, the EU and its Member States continue to face persistent shortfalls in strategic collective capabilities, command and control structures, and sustainable military capacity; underlines that these gaps significantly limit the EU and its Member States’ ability to sustain a prolonged large-scale defence engagement, particularly in the face of acts of hybrid warfare; calls for urgent measures to address these critical capability shortfalls through enhanced cooperation, coordinated planning, and targeted investments to ensure defence readiness;
2. Notes that, despite increased defence efforts, the EU and its Member States continue to face persistent shortfalls in strategic collective capabilities, command and control structures, and sustainable military capacity; underlines that these gaps significantly limit the EU and all Member States’ ability to sustain a prolonged large-scale defence engagement, particularly in the face of acts of hybrid warfare; calls for urgent measures to address these critical capability shortfalls through enhanced cooperation, coordinated planning, and targeted investments to ensure defence readiness;
Amendment 16
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
2 a. Stresses that the European single defence market has the potential to become a powerful engine of growth and innovation, given the size of the EU market, its capacity to create quality jobs and the positive spillover effects on the wider economy; underlines that the development of flagship EDPCIs represents a strong opportunity to strengthen the competitiveness of European companies, in particular by facilitating procurement market access for SMEs and mid-caps operating on all levels of the supply chain, and to strengthen the efficiency and innovation capacity of the EDTIB; stresses the need to enhance European equipment procurement through a focus on domestic suppliers;
Amendment 17
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
2 b. Stresses the importance of close cooperation with the Ukrainian defence industry and its gradual integration into the EDTIB; urges the Member States and their defence industries to invest in and partner with their Ukrainian counterparts in order to maximise the potential of their production capabilities to produce critical equipment in the most efficient manner, including through participation in flagship projects; stresses that this will benefit the single market for defence and strengthen European defence cooperation; reiterates its call on the Commission and the Member States to deploy Russia’s immobilised sovereign assets to support Ukraine and the strengthening of its defence technological and industrial base;
Amendment 18
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
3. Stresses that filling capability gaps requires developing autonomous Strategic Enablers without which Member States’ armed forces cannot effectively conduct joint military operations; recommends in this regard, the development of a safe and secure common architecture for command, control, communications, intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance, as well as common defence capabilities in the areas of space, strategic airlift, air-to-air refuelling and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) risk prevention; praises the work of the EDA, which provides an overview and analysis of the EU defence landscape and offers recommendations on opportunities for collaboration on capability development and acquisition through the Capability Development Priorities (CDP) and the Coordinated Annual Review on Defence (CARD);
3. Stresses that filling capability gaps requires developing autonomous Strategic Enablers without which Member States’ armed forces cannot effectively conduct joint military operations; recommends in this regard, the development of a safe and secure common architecture for command, control, communications, intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance, as well as common defence capabilities in the areas of space, strategic airlift, air-to-air refuelling and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) risk prevention; praises the work of the EDA, which provides an overview and analysis of the EU defence landscape and offers recommendations on opportunities for collaboration on capability development and acquisition through the Capability Development Priorities (CDP) and the Coordinated Annual Review on Defence (CARD); calls on the Commission and the Member States to further cooperate with the EDA and to make full use of the CARD reports, as they provide an overview of the defence landscape in the EU and identify opportunities for collaboration within the single market; calls on the Member States to consistently share up-to-date data with the Commission and the EDA in order to systematically identify critical capability gaps and propose effective collaborative actions; calls on the Commission and the Member States to remove, as a matter of priority, the existing single market barriers hampering, in particular, the ability to address these urgent capability gaps;
Amendment 19
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
4. Recognises that there are immediate defence needs that can be met with supplies or support from non-EU countries; further emphasises that European security remains heavily dependent on the defence industry of non-EU countries; stresses that, in the current geopolitical context and given the requirement for the EU to assume greater responsibility for defence, there is a need for a managed transition from dependency on non-EU countries to strategic autonomy and strengthening the EDTIB;
4. Recognises that there are immediate defence needs that can be met with supplies or support from non-EU countries; further emphasises that European security remains heavily dependent on the defence industry of non-EU countries; stresses that, in the current geopolitical context and given the requirement for the EU to assume greater responsibility for defence, there is a need for a managed and gradual transition from dependency on non-EU countries to strategic autonomy and strengthening the EDTIB; welcomes the shift, underscored in the proposed EDIP regulation, towards increased spending on EU capabilities and the strengthening of its strategic autonomy, which in turn strengthens the global competitiveness of the EDTIB within a well-functioning single market; underlines, however, the need to establish the conditions necessary for the development of the defence industry across the entire EU market;
Amendment 20
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
4 a. Recalls that lack of standardisation remains a key obstacle to European defence readiness; calls on the Commission and the Member States to promote greater interoperability with NATO and ensure that products developed under flagship projects are in line with relevant NATO standardisation agreements (STANAGs);
Amendment 21
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
5. Acknowledges the endorsement by the European Council of the Roadmap Defence Readiness 2030 – Preserving Peace and the Member States’ commitment to developing four initial European Readiness Flagships – the European Drone Defence Initiative, the Eastern Flank Watch, the Air Defence Shield and the Defence Space Shield; notes that these proposed flagship projects cover a very wide range of defence capabilities; urges the Commission, the Member States and the EDA to therefore clearly identify the specific objectives and timeline for the implementation, technological scope and expected size of each of these projects;
5. Acknowledges the endorsement by the European Council of the Preserving Peace – Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030 and the Member States’ commitment to developing four initial European Readiness Flagships – the European Drone Defence Initiative, the Eastern Flank Watch, the Air Defence Shield and the Defence Space Shield; calls on the Commission, in close cooperation with the Member States and the EDA, to present without delay proposals for implementing the first European Defence Flagship Projects, in line with the timelines and priorities set out in the joint communication; notes that these proposed flagship projects cover a very wide range of defence capabilities; urges the Commission, the Member States and the EDA to therefore clearly identify the specific objectives and timeline for the implementation, technological scope and expected size of each of these projects; underlines that removing existing barriers hindering the single market for defence products is essential for the timely completion of these key projects, as underlined in the Commission proposal to streamline and simplify rules concerning intra-EU transfers of defence products and defence public procurement rules (COM(2025)0823); stresses that the European Drone Defence Initiative should be closely linked with the proposed Drone Alliance with Ukraine, and that EU counter-drone systems should draw on the operational experience and lessons learnt from Ukraine; underlines the importance of the development of the Eastern Flank Watch initiative, as a flagship project, in order to strengthen the protection and resilience of the EU;
Amendment 22
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
6. Recognises the need to establish a widely agreed upon definition of ‘flagship projects’ as large-scale, pan-European collaborative initiatives in defence capability and industrial development, including Strategic Enablers within a common framework such as EDIP that allow their identification and implementation in a coherent manner within EU defence and industrial policies; underlines that defining flagship projects is crucial to ensuring effective collaboration among Member States, pooling resources to address critical capability gaps and moving towards a genuine European Defence Union;
6. Recognises the need to establish a widely agreed upon definition of ‘flagship projects’ as large-scale, pan-European collaborative initiatives in defence capability, defence digital infrastructure and industrial development, including Strategic Enablers within a common framework such as EDIP that allow their identification and implementation in a coherent manner within EU defence and industrial policies; underlines that defining flagship projects is crucial to ensuring effective collaboration among Member States, pooling resources to address critical capability gaps and moving towards a genuine European Defence Union; emphasises that flagship projects and the EDPCIs, as defined under the EDIP, should be fully aligned and consistent with one another, in order to ensure the optimal use of these new projects, provide predictability and clarity for industry, and strengthen political prioritisation at Union level; believes that flagship projects should involve entities from as many Member States as possible, including at least four Member States, and be open to the full participation of Ukraine; underlines that flagship projects could also be open, under certain conditions and with full respect for the security and defence interests of the EU and its Member States, to non-EU countries with which the Union has signed security and defence partnerships, provided that EU Member States keep full operating control of these projects;
Amendment 23
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
6 a. Stresses that EDPCIs constitute a key instrument for addressing critical capability gaps and shortages that cannot be filled at national level alone; underlines that developing such capabilities collectively at Union level can generate significant economies of scale, reduce duplication and ensure that public funds and taxpayers’ money are used in the most efficient and responsible manner; emphasises that, given the considerable funding needs required to achieve the Union’s defence readiness targets by 2030, resources should be strategically directed towards projects that maximise European added value and contribute to the development of common deterrence;
Amendment 24
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
7. Stresses that the objectives of flagship projects must be aligned with those of agreed EU defence objectives; emphasises, too, that they should address innovative technological areas for defence and contribute to the development of cutting-edge defence capabilities that respond to the requirements of modern warfare, including the rising need to network military operations, troops and weapons, ensure cyber defence, develop intelligence data collection, storage, processing, sharing and decision support tools, operate deep and precise strikes and counter drone attacks;
7. Stresses that the objectives of flagship projects must be aligned with those of agreed EU defence objectives; emphasises, too, that they should address filling the current critical capability gaps, as well as innovative technological areas for defence and should contribute to the development of commonly owned equipment, with common development and maintenance of capabilities; believes that these projects should focus on cutting-edge defence capabilities that respond to the requirements of modern warfare, including the rising need to network military operations, troops and weapons, ensure cyber defence, develop intelligence data collection, storage, processing, sharing and decision support tools, operate deep and precise strikes and counter drone attacks; underlines that these objectives should focus on improved interoperability and enhancing standardisation of defence products;
Amendment 25
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
8. Emphasises that flagship projects should aim to foster closer cooperation and innovation in governance mechanisms at EU level, showing best practices towards a common and coordinated strategy for European defence; stresses, too, that good governance of flagship projects must be based on a shared vision and effective coordination among their ‘programmatic actors’, namely the governments, military headquarters and public procurement agencies of EU Member States and defence industrial companies; considers that flagship projects could benefit from and build on existing cooperation within the framework of PESCO and EDF projects;
8. Emphasises that flagship projects should aim to foster closer cooperation and innovation in governance mechanisms at EU level, showing best practices towards a common and coordinated strategy for European defence; stresses, too, that good governance of flagship projects must be based on a shared vision and effective coordination among their ‘programmatic actors’, namely the governments, military headquarters and public procurement agencies of EU Member States and defence industrial companies; considers that flagship projects could benefit from and build on existing cooperation within the framework of PESCO and EDF projects; considers that flagship projects can help create or revitalise regional defence industry clusters by strengthening local industrial capacities, promoting technology transfer, synergies and industrial scaling, and reinforcing critical supply chains while extending benefits across Member States;
Amendment 26
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
9. Acknowledges the creation of the EDPCI as a new tool under the EDIP; recognises that flagship projects could be developed under its framework;
9. Welcomes the creation of the EDPCI as a new tool under the EDIP; underlines that flagship projects could be developed under its framework, thereby increasing the consistency of EU defence policy; stresses that, beyond their development and production phases, flagship projects should also ensure the establishment of common frameworks for their operation, maintenance and life-cycle management at EU level; notes that the EDIP framework provides a minimum threshold for participating entities of four Member States or associated countries such as Ukraine; stresses that such projects should enable broad participation, foster innovation and interoperability; invites the Commission to explore and propose mechanisms that would allow eligible states that did not participate in the initial production phase to join such projects at the operational and maintenance stage;
Amendment 27
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
10. Calls for the inclusion of the widest range of industrial actors in flagship projects, including mid-caps and small and medium-sized enterprises, to enable the spread of innovation across the entire spectrum of the EDTIB;
10. Calls for the inclusion of the widest range of industrial actors in flagship projects, including mid-caps and small and medium-sized enterprises, to enable the spread of innovation across the entire spectrum of the EDTIB and to allow them to scale up; calls, furthermore, for the participation of other relevant stakeholders in such projects, such as research organisations, academic institutions, innovation hubs and technology centres, as well as testing and certification bodies, in order to foster stronger synergies between research, innovation and industrial development within the European defence ecosystem; calls, furthermore, for the establishment of a high-level European defence industry group to ensure effective cooperation and closer dialogue and engagement with industry; stresses the need to ensure a fair geographical balance in the distribution of industrial benefits and participation, in order to build a fully functioning single market for defence where entities from all Member States can contribute and benefit from these initiatives;
Amendment 28
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
11. Stresses the need to prevent military technologies, in particular sensitive emerging technologies and critical dual-use items, especially in the area of space, quantum technologies and AI, from being transferred to destinations of concern outside the EU; urges Member States participating in flagship projects to commit to following common approaches and to defining and agreeing on a common strategy for granting export licenses for products resulting from flagship projects;
11. Stresses the need to prevent military technologies, in particular sensitive emerging technologies and critical dual-use items, especially in the area of space, quantum technologies and AI, from being transferred to destinations of concern outside the EU or to third countries that contravene the security and defence interests of the Union and its Member States or that do not respect the principle of good neighbourly relations, to the detriment of the single market; underscores the need to not source components from non-associated third countries that contravene the security and defence interests of the Union and its Member States; stresses that flagship projects should also contribute to reducing the Union’s dependencies on external providers outside the EU in critical areas, thereby strengthening the EU’s strategic autonomy; urges Member States participating in flagship projects to commit to following common approaches, to developing production capabilities within the internal market and to defining and agreeing on a common strategy for granting export licenses for products resulting from flagship projects;
Amendment 29
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
11 a. Recalls that the AI Act1a excludes from its scope AI systems that are exclusively used for military, defence or national security purposes; stresses that the use of AI in warfare raises ethical concerns such as accountability, compliance with international humanitarian law and the risk of conflict escalation due to reduced human oversight; suggests, therefore, defining ethical guidelines for defence AI;
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1a Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 laying down harmonised rules on artificial intelligence and amending Regulations (EC) No 300/2008, (EU) No 167/2013, (EU) No 168/2013, (EU) 2018/858, (EU) 2018/1139 and (EU) 2019/2144 and Directives 2014/90/EU, (EU) 2016/797 and (EU) 2020/1828 (Artificial Intelligence Act) (OJ L, 2024/1689, 12.7.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1689/oj).
Amendment 30
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
11 b. Considers that flagship projects could represent the cornerstone of European defence cooperation; calls for the establishment of a strong and transparent governance and coordination structure for such flagship projects to overcome current fragmentation and guarantee their development and operationalisation; believes that, in line with Treaty provisions, such a structure should involve the Commission, the Member States, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the EDA, and the European Parliament, among others;
Amendment 31
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 c (new)
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
11 c. Believes that, considering their importance in the present and to the future of European defence, flagship projects should have a high threshold for the number of participating Member States so as to strengthen intra-EU technological and industrial defence cooperation; believes, therefore, that flagship projects should involve entities from as many Member States as possible, including at least four Member States, and be open to the full participation of Ukraine; underlines that flagship projects could also be open, under certain conditions and with full respect for the security and defence interests of the EU and its Member States, to non-EU countries with which the Union has signed security and defence partnerships, provided that EU Member States keep full operating control of these projects;
Amendment 32
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
12. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to further present proposals for flagship projects addressing the development of defence capabilities and allowing Member States to better align their national efforts with agreed EU defence objectives;
12. Calls on the Commission and the Member States, together with the EDA, to further develop and present proposals for flagship projects addressing the development of defence capabilities and allowing Member States to better align their national efforts with agreed EU defence objectives;
Amendment 33
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
13. Recommends that the Commission, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the EDA participate in a supporting role to facilitate the implementation of flagship projects;
13. Recommends that the Vice-President of the Commission / the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the EDA participate in a supporting role to facilitate the definition, identification, selection and implementation of flagship projects;
Amendment 34
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
13 a. Stresses that Ukraine is a key part of Europe’s defence architecture and readiness effort; believes, therefore, that developing defence and industrial cooperation with Ukraine and other non-EU countries with which the Union has signed security and defence partnerships is important;
Amendment 35
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
14. Commits to exercising its scrutiny and legislative and budgetary role in relation to the selection, implementation and financing of flagship projects on the basis of regular and comprehensive information and reports from the Commission;
14. Underscores that Parliament’s key role is to guarantee democratic control and oversight of flagship projects; commits to exercising its scrutiny and legislative and budgetary role in relation to the selection, implementation and financing of flagship projects on the basis of regular and comprehensive information and reports, including annual reports, from the Commission;
Amendment 36
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
15. Calls on the Commission to explore ways of establishing a specific fund under the next multiannual financial framework to ensure the long-term financing of flagship projects; underlines the need for adequate and appropriate funding for flagship projects that does not compromise the funds allocated to other strategic areas of the EU budget devoted to defence;
15. Calls on the Commission to explore ways of establishing increased and more targeted funding under the next multiannual financial framework, such as within the proposed European Competitiveness Fund, to ensure the long-term financing of flagship projects; underlines the need for adequate and appropriate funding for flagship projects without compromising the funds allocated to other strategic areas of the EU budget, including those already devoted to defence; invites the Commission to consider whether EU funding could also support the operation, maintenance and life-cycle management of capabilities developed under EDPCIs, in order to maximise their efficiency, interoperability and European added value;
Amendment 37
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
16. Shares the European Court of Auditors’ observation regarding the EDIP proposal that the time needed to complete flagship projects is likely to exceed the two-year implementation period provided for by the EDIP; stresses, therefore, that for flagship projects to benefit from EDIP funding, the Member States concerned must commit to co-financing them for their entire duration, well beyond an initial two-year period;
16. Shares the European Court of Auditors’ observation regarding the EDIP proposal that the time needed to complete flagship projects is likely to exceed the two-year implementation period provided for by the EDIP; stresses, therefore, that for flagship projects to benefit from EDIP funding, the Member States concerned must commit to co-financing them for their entire duration, well beyond an initial two-year period; calls on the Commission and the Member States to explore possibilities for continuing the financing of projects started under the EDIP within the next multiannual financial framework;
Amendment 38
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
17. Invites EU Member States to consider systematically earmarking part of their national defence budgets for the development of partnership initiatives and the procurement of defence equipment produced within the framework of flagship projects;
17. Invites EU Member States to strengthen cooperation and systematically earmark part of their national defence budgets for the development of partnership initiatives and the procurement of defence equipment produced within the framework of flagship projects; encourages the Member States, before the entry into force of the next multiannual financial framework, to use part of their allocation under the already approved Security Action for Europe financial instrument to develop flagship projects;
ANNEX: DECLARATION OF INPUT
Pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure, the rapporteur for opinion declares that he included in his opinion input on matters pertaining to the subject of the file that he received, in the preparation of the draft opinion , prior to the adoption thereof in committee, from the following interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register1, or from the following representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies:
1. Interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register
European Defence Agency
Permanent Representation of Italy to the European Union
Leonardo S.p.A. - 02550382403-01
FINCANTIERI SpA - 095079912436-63
European Commission - Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space (DG DEFIS)
2. Representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies
N/A
The list above is drawn up under the exclusive responsibility of the rapporteur for opinion.
Where natural persons are identified in the list by their name, by their function or by both, the rapporteur for opinion declares that he has submitted to the natural persons concerned the European Parliament’s Data Protection Notice No 484 (https://www.europarl.europa.eu/data-protect/index.do), which sets out the conditions applicable to the processing of their personal data and the rights linked to that processing.
INFORMATION ON ADOPTION IN COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION
Date adopted
4.12.2025
Result of final vote
+ : 30
- : 5
0 : 6
Members present for the final vote
Pablo Arias Echeverría, Jeannette Baljeu, Laura Ballarín Cereza, Katarina Barley, Arno Bausemer, Anna Cavazzini, Stefano Cavedagna, Henrik Dahl, Adnan Dibrani, Regina Doherty, Klara Dostalova, Michał Dworczyk, Kamila Gasiuk-Pihowicz, Hanna Gedin, Elisabeth Grossmann, Maria Guzenina, Svenja Hahn, Pierre Jouvet, Arba Kokalari, Nikola Minchev, Piotr Müller, Gheorghe Piperea, Christel Schaldemose, Andreas Schwab, Tomislav Sokol, Kim Van Sparrentak, Marion Walsmann
Substitutes present for the final vote
José Cepeda, Veronika Cifrová Ostrihoňová, Salvatore De Meo, François Kalfon, Idoia Mendia, Aura Salla, Paulius Saudargas, Joanna Scheuring-Wielgus, Susana Solís Pérez, Ivaylo Valchev, Mariateresa Vivaldini
Members under Rule 216(7) present for the final vote
Valérie Deloge, Niels Geuking, Milan Mazurek
FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION
30
+
PPE
Arias Echeverría Pablo, Dahl Henrik, De Meo Salvatore, Doherty Regina, Gasiuk-Pihowicz Kamila, Geuking Niels, Kokalari Arba, Salla Aura, Saudargas Paulius, Schwab Andreas, Sokol Tomislav, Solís Pérez Susana, Walsmann Marion
Renew
Baljeu Jeannette, Cifrová Ostrihonová Veronika, Hahn Svenja, Minchev Nikola
S&D
Ballarín Cereza Laura, Barley Katarina, Cepeda José, Dibrani Adnan, Grossmann Elisabeth, Guzenina Maria, Jouvet Pierre, Kalfon François, Mendia Idoia, Schaldemose Christel, Scheuring-Wielgus Joanna
Verts/ALE
Cavazzini Anna, Van Sparrentak Kim
5
-
ESN
Bausemer Arno, Mazurek Milan
PfE
Deloge Valérie, Dostalova Klara
The Left
Gedin Hanna
6
0
ECR
Cavedagna Stefano, Dworczyk Michal, Müller Piotr, Piperea Gheorghe, Valchev Ivaylo, Vivaldini Mariateresa
Key:
+ : in favour
- : against
0 : abstentions