Sittings · Document

DRAFT OPINION (2025/2144(INI)) 2025-10-22

On the Flagship European defence projects of common interest

Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection · Rapporteur: Pierfrancesco Maran

PA_NonLeg

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,

Or. en

Amendment 2

Motion for a resolution

Citation 13 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– 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),

Or. en

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, its chapter ‘A single market to play big: scale matters’,

Or. en

Amendment 4

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, including Russia’s illegal and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine, require the EU and its Member States to 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, as well as deter, act and respond autonomously or in partnership with their allies, particularly within NATO, to immediate and future threats;

Or. en

Amendment 5

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;

Or. en

Amendment 6

Motion for a resolution

Recital C

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

C. whereas in its joint communication of 5 March 2024 entitled ‘A new European Defence Industrial Strategy’ the Commission highlights that only 18 % of total equipment spending by EU Member States was devoted to EU collaborative defence equipment procurement in 2022, far below the current 35 % collective benchmark set by Member States at the EDA Ministerial Steering Board in 2007; whereas the end users of defence products are primarily the national armed forces of Member States and the latter can therefore only consider increasing their investments in defence industrial projects if these projects concern the development of military capabilities of common interest to their armed forces;

Or. en

Amendment 7

Motion for a resolution

Recital C a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

C a. whereas a well-functioning EU defence equipment market is a key enabler for the establishment of a single market for defence; whereas a functioning single market for defence, based on cross-industrial cooperation and joint procurement, will strengthen the competitiveness of the EDTIB, but also the Union’s deterrence, resilience and strategic autonomy; whereas the development of a single market for defence and the reinforcement of the EDTIB are key stepping stones towards the construction of a genuine European Defence Union;

Or. en

Amendment 8

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, and contributing to developing a genuine European Defence Union;

Or. en

Amendment 9

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 within the European defence industry, representing an important step towards strengthening the EDTIB;

Or. en

Amendment 10

Motion for a resolution

Recital E b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

E b. whereas, as underscored in the Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030, Ukraine remains Europe’s first line of defence and is an integral part of Europe’s defence and security architecture, and the EU and its Member States should continue the support and intensify cooperation with Ukraine; whereas integrating Ukraine’s defence technological and industrial base (DTIB) within EDPCIs and flagship projects will be a key factor in the successful development of a single market for defence;

Or. en

Amendment 11

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; underlines that without the development of a true single market for defence, rising national defence spending risks being absorbed by inefficiencies, leading to further fragmentation within the EU; stresses the need to increase joint and collaborative defence spending that ensures efficient resource allocation, strengthens the EDTIB, and paves the way for the development of a genuine European Defence Union;

Or. en

Amendment 12

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

3 a. Highlights the importance of strengthening the competitiveness of European companies and facilitating procurement market access for small and medium-sized enterprises; therefore, stresses the need to enhance European equipment procurement through a focus on domestic suppliers;

Or. en

Amendment 13

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;

Or. en

Amendment 14

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 innovative technological areas for defence and contribute to the development of common and interoperable capabilities; believes that these 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 flagship projects should also ultimately be used to strengthen the competitiveness, efficiency and innovation capacity of the EDTIB;

Or. en

Amendment 15

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; calls, to this end, for the establishment of a high-level European defence industry group to ensure effective cooperation, and a closer dialogue and engagement with industry;

Or. en

Amendment 16

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; underscores the need to not source components from non-associated third countries that contravene the security and defence interests of the EU and its Member States; 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;

Or. en

Amendment 17

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 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; therefore, suggests defining ethical guidelines for defence AI;

_________________

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).

Or. en

Amendment 18

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; believes therefore that a strong and transparent governance structure, involving the Commission, the Member States, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the European Defence Agency, and Parliament, among others, is required to guarantee their development and make them operational;

Or. en

Amendment 19

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 higher threshold for the participating number of Member States so as to strengthen intra-EU technological and industrial defence cooperation; believes, therefore, that flagship projects should involve entities from at least five Member States and be open to the full participation of Ukraine;

Or. en

Amendment 20

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 European Defence Agency, 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;

Or. en

Amendment 21

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 Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the European Defence Agency participate in a supporting role to facilitate the definition, selection and implementation of flagship projects;

Or. en

Amendment 22

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, including former members of the Union, European Free Trade Association countries, and countries that have been granted candidate country status, is important;

Or. en

Amendment 23

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 from the Commission;

Or. en

Amendment 24

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 a specific fund under the next multiannual financial framework, such as under 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 that does not compromise the funds allocated to other strategic areas of the EU budget, including those already devoted to defence; 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 DTIB;

Or. en

Amendment 25

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; further calls on Member States to use part of their allocation under the Security Action for Europe financial instrument for developing flagship projects;

Or. en

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

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.