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OPINION (COM(2025)0565) – C100179/2025 – 2025/0240(COD))

On the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the European Fund for economic, social and territorial cohesion, agriculture and rural, fisheries and maritime, prosperity and security for the period 2028-2034 and amending Regulation (EU) 2023/955 and Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509

SEDE-AD-787638

Committee on Security and Defence · Rapporteur: Ana Catarina Mendes

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The Committee on Security and Defence proposes amendments to the proposed regulation establishing the European Fund for economic, social and territorial cohesion, agriculture and rural, fisheries and maritime, prosperity and security for 2028-2034. The amendments add defence, security and preparedness objectives, including a new general objective to support a coordinated approach to security and defence challenges. They require at least 5% of the financial envelope to be dedicated to the defence and security objectives, with certain amounts excluded from the calculation. They exclude third countries from measures contributing to the defence-related specific objectives and require consistency with EU defence instruments and NATO activities.

Committee position. The Committee on Security and Defence proposes amendments to the proposed regulation to strengthen defence, security and preparedness objectives, including a minimum allocation of 5% for these objectives and consistency with EU defence instruments and NATO.

Key points

  1. Recital 7 is amended to state that the geopolitical context makes defence and security a priority and that the Union budget should strengthen European strategic autonomy, including through a European preference in strategic sectors such as the defence technological and industrial base.
  2. Recital 9 is amended to add that cohesion policy should support strategic autonomy, security and defence, including through a strong and competitive European defence technological and industrial base.
  3. Recital 10 is amended to require better coordination among Member States, including with NATO where appropriate, to avoid duplication and fragmentation in defence.
  4. Recital 12 is amended to provide targeted support to Eastern border regions for military mobility infrastructure, civil protection systems, critical infrastructure protection and civil-military cooperation.
  5. Recital 14 is amended to add a whole-of-society approach to security and preparedness and to ensure effective participation of regional and local authorities in the fund.
  6. Recital 16 is amended to reinforce the defence industrial base, including SMEs, military mobility, cybersecurity, UAS capabilities, dual-use TEN-T infrastructure, counter-mobility infrastructure, stockpiling and security of supply.
  7. New recitals require that financial support for National and Regional Partnership Plans be consistent with CFSP and CSDP priorities, PESCO, EDA, CARD, the White Paper for European Defence, the Strategic Compass and NATO capability targets.
  8. New recitals state that critical energy infrastructure should be considered strategic assets eligible for enhanced support, and that synergies with other Union instruments should be promoted in defence, security and resilience.
  9. Article 2 is amended to add defence and preparedness to the overall aim and to add a new general objective to support a comprehensive approach to security and defence challenges.
  10. Article 3 is amended to reinforce defence capabilities, preparedness and resilience, including by developing dual-use TEN-T infrastructure, supporting defence-related preparedness, and adding a new objective on internal security and civil preparedness.
  11. Article 10 is amended to require that at least 5% of the financial envelope and of the amount referred to in paragraph 4 be dedicated to the objectives in Article 3(1)(b) and (ba), excluding certain amounts from the calculation.
  12. Article 28 is amended to exclude third countries from measures contributing to the specific objectives in Article 3(1)(b)(i), (ii) and (iii) and (d)(i), (ii) and (iii).

Who is affected

  • Member States, particularly those with eastern border regions, which must align National and Regional Partnership Plans with defence priorities and may receive support for military mobility and civil protection.
  • Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the defence sector, which the amendments aim to integrate into European defence supply chains.
  • Regional and local authorities, which should participate effectively in the fund and have facilitated access to it.
  • Third countries, which are excluded from measures contributing to the defence-related specific objectives.

Figures and deadlines

  • At least 5 % of the financial envelope referred to in Article 10(2) and of the amount referred to in Article 10(4) shall be dedicated to the objectives in Article 3(1)(b) and (ba).