Sittings · Document
Follow up to the European Parliament non-legislative resolution on drones and new systems of warfare – the EU’s need to adapt to be fit for today’s security challenges
Rapporteur: Reinis POZŅAKS (ECR / LV)
References: 2025/2088(INI) / A10-0270/2025 / P10_TA(2026)0020
Date of adoption of the resolution: 22 January 2026
Competent Parliamentary Committee: Committee on Security and Defence (SEDE)
Brief analysis/ assessment of the resolution and requests made in it:
The resolution calls for a unified EU’s approach to the development, deployment and governance of drone and counter-drone capabilities, recognising their growing importance for European security, defence, resilience and industrial competitiveness in light of an evolving threat environment. It supports the systematic integration of drones into existing European infrastructure monitoring and civil protection systems, while promoting dual-use funding models that strengthen defence readiness and civilian applications. Enhanced cooperation between the defence, space, transport and civil sectors is emphasised to accelerate interoperable, multi-domain unmanned systems. The resolution underlines the need to protect critical infrastructure against malicious drone activities and expresses concern over Russia’s use of drones, including violations of EU airspace. A focus is also placed on industrial capacity, notably on supporting SMEs and start-ups through simplified access to financing, reduced administrative burdens and accelerated deployment pathways. The resolution encourages scalable funding models, joint ventures with major defence primes, and closer cooperation with Ukrainian industry to reinforce Europe’s technological and defence capabilities. Addressing strategic dependencies, the resolution stresses the urgency of reducing reliance on third countries for critical components and rare earth materials. It further calls for harmonised transfer and export control rules, EU-NATO interoperability standards, and the integration of drones into military mobility frameworks. Finally, the resolution highlights the importance of testing infrastructures, public awareness, skills development and education.
Response to the requests and overview of the action taken, or intended to be taken, by the Commission:
As regards paragraphs 18 and 43, the Commission highlights the new Action Plan on Drone and Counter-Drone Security, adopted on 11 February 2026, that sets out a general strategic outlook on planned actions and also includes recommendations of the Parliament, especially concerning building synergies between civilian and defence research and development (R&D) investment for drones and counter-drone systems. Furthermore, the Commission adopted the Military Mobility Package in November 2025, that proposes to enhance the protection of strategic dual-use transport infrastructure, including measures against cyber and hybrid threats. Additionally, the Military Mobility Package suggests the establishment of regulatory testing environments (‘regulatory sandboxes’) to accelerate the development of technologies such as dual-use air transport solutions and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) within the Union, through collaboration between civil and military authorities. This initiative seeks to bridge existing regulatory gaps, foster interoperability, and will serve as the political framework for future financial support in this area.
Concerning paragraph 37, and in line with the Commission Communication of 11 February 2026 on the Action Plan on Drone and Counter-Drone Security, the Commission’s Joint Research Centre’s Counter-UAS Living Lab will be upgraded into an EU Counter-Drone Centre of Excellence. This upgrade will strengthen the Union’s capacity to systematically test and assess counter-UAS solutions in realistic operational environments. The Centre of Excellence will generate evidence-based knowledge on requirements, performance and operational use of counter-UAS systems, in close cooperation with Member States and EU agencies. The results of these activities will directly feed into the regular update of the JRC counter-UAS handbooks, ensuring that they remain practical, harmonised and aligned with technological developments and evolving threat scenarios.
On paragraph 38, the Commission takes note of the Parliament’s call to ensure protection of critical EU infrastructure and entities against possible drone attacks. The new Action Plan on Drone Security and Counter-Drone Security is the civilian contribution to the ongoing defence initiatives and aims to further enhance EU resilience and preparedness against UAS, to protect critical infrastructures, external borders and public spaces as well as the maritime domain. The Action plan considers all kind of threats, from unintentional incidents (private citizens flying drones over an airport), to organised crimes, terrorist and hybrid attacks, as well as the role of drones in the battlefield. Civil security research and innovation actions also contribute to developing detection, prevention and response capabilities against drone-related threats to critical infrastructure, reinforcing the EU’s resilience and reducing strategic dependencies in key enabling technologies. The Action plan sets out Commission initiatives concerning the protection of critical infrastructure from drone threats, the detection of threats against undersea cables, the support for Member States to test and take advantage of 5G networks to enhance the detection capacities of drones flying over critical infrastructure and the launch of a joint deployment initiative of counter-drone systems over critical infrastructure together with Member States. With the Critical Entities Resilience (CER) Directive, the EU has also put in place a horizontal framework to enhance the physical resilience of critical infrastructure, and of critical entities operating such infrastructure, that addresses both man-made and natural threats to the physical security of critical infrastructure. To support Member States and critical entities, the Commission will issue guidelines for resilience enhancing measures, including targeted guidance for critical entities on countering threats posed by drones. The Commission will also propose a plan to stress test the resilience of critical infrastructures against all drone-related threats, based on the model of the previously conducted stress testing of critical infrastructure in the energy sector and for submarine cables.
Concerning paragraphs 52, 53 and 54, the Commission and the High Representative share the Parliament’s concerns regarding extensive use by Russia of drones or related equipment delivered by third countries or manufactured with the support of Russia’s partners. The EU has established a comprehensive framework to impose sanctions on logistical infrastructures in Russia, on vessels used to transport drone components, on third country companies directly supporting Russia military and industrial complex, and to tighten export control towards entities contributing to Russia manufacturing capabilities. In January 2026, the EU extended the list of goods and technologies barred for export to Iran in view of their probable contribution to Russia military capacity and listed additional individuals and entities involved in manufacturing or transferring drone and military components to the benefit of Russia.
Regarding to paragraph 72, the Commission recognises the importance of bolstering support for EU drone manufacturing SMEs and is aware of the structural and ecosystem-related challenges they encounter. The Commission has put in place dedicated instruments which provide guidance to defence SMEs and small mid-caps on the opportunities offered in the defence sector, for instance in the framework of the European Defence Fund (EDF), the European Defence Innovation Scheme (EUDIS), or the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP). In addition, the European Network of Defence-related Regions offers a platform for defence-related regional organisations and industry clusters. Recognising the specific challenges of the drone ecosystem, the Commission is also promoting targeted activities such as a dedicated Industry Roundtable on drone and counter-drone solutions and the creation of a drones and counter-drones Tech Alliance to support the emergence of a cohesive European drone manufacturing ecosystem. The Commission is also working on establishing a Drone Alliance with Ukraine, to bring Ukraine’s experience and innovative approaches to the European industrial drone manufacturing ecosystem and to foster collaboration and industrial joint ventures, both within EU27 and between Member States and Ukraine, by bringing together system integrators, start-ups/scale-ups and a community of innovators. Furthermore, the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group has established a one-stop shop to facilitate access to debt and equity financing for the defence industry – particularly for projects supported by the Commission, including under InvestEU. In addition, the EUDIS Matchmaking platform, launched by the Commission in 2025, connects SMEs and small mid-caps seeking financing with European investors.
On paragraphs 73 and 74, the Commission on 25 March 2026 hasadopted ‘AGILE’ the new instrument to support rapid defence innovation. The objective is to enable the deployment of cost-effective, innovative defence products and technologies for the needs of Member States’ armed forces. Moreover, through the BraveTechEU initiative, the Commission will work with the European Defence Agency (EDA) and Ukraine to accelerate the development of counter-drone technologies, ensuring solutions are tailored to operational needs and validated through testing and evaluation campaigns. Furthermore, the Commission will also provide targeted assistance to strengthen Ukrainian SMEs’ competitiveness, innovation, and access to European markets through the Ukraine Support Instrument (USI) of the EDIP. Also, the EUDIS is interlinked with the EDA’s Hub for European Defence Innovation (HEDI), which coordinates Member States’ efforts to accelerate the adoption of new technologies by identifying solutions to pressing military challenges – in 2025 HEDI conducted its first Operational Experimentation campaign and launched an initiative on Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). Under Horizon Europe, the EU has invested and will continue to invest in research and development of drone technologies and counter-drone solutions to protect public spaces, border management and critical infrastructures. These projects are civilian in purpose, but many results have a dual-use potential. Furthermore, the European Innovation Council (EIC) has built a strong portfolio in drone technologies, investing around EUR 120 million in 18 companies. Following the adoption of the Regulation incentivising defence-related investments in the EU budget (so called Mini-Omnibus) , the EIC will be able to support companies developing dual-use technologies through its Accelerator scheme, including those in the area of drone and counter-drone technologies with further scale up support available under EIC STEP Scale Up Scheme (for which defence companies will also be eligible).
Concerning paragraphs 78 and 79, the Commission has taken concrete steps to accelerate the scaling of SMEs and deepen industrial collaboration. Through the combined leverage of the EUDIS, the EDF, and the EDIP, the Commission is deploying targeted financial and regulatory instruments. The Commission has established a multi-layered funding architecture to ensure that drone and counter-drone SMEs can scale effectively within the Union. Under the EUDIS, the Commission has introduced specific SME calls for research and development, allowing consortia composed of SMEs to drive innovation in areas like autonomous flight or sensor miniaturization without competing against established industrial Primes. To address the critical need for private investment, EUDIS includes the Defence Equity Facility, that injects equity into venture capital funds that specifically target innovative defence start-ups. This ensures that drone scale-ups have a reliable pathway to market maturity and the capital required to build out industrial capacity. These efforts are further bolstered by the BraveTech EU initiative and the EDIP’s Fund to Accelerate defence Supply chains Transformation (FAST), which provide support necessary for SMEs and small mid-caps to move from prototype to mass production. Also, the EIC has demonstrated strong market traction through its investment model, achieving a leverage effect of approximately 1 to 3 through co-investments with a broad network of European investors. This positions the EIC as a key Union instrument for scaling up deep-tech SMEs and translating critical defence and dual-use technologies into industrial capacity. Through blended finance and direct equity, the EIC can support successive growth phases, from validation and testing to production scale-up and create the conditions for closer industrial cooperation between innovative SMEs and established European defence actors. Ukrainian entities are eligible to participate in the relevant EIC defence calls, thereby supporting deeper industrial cooperation.
To foster deeper cooperation between major European defence primes and agile drone innovators, the EDF utilises an incentive system (including a bonus to the funding rate and specific award criteria) that rewards consortia that include smaller players. These incentives make it advantageous for primes to include SME partners for complex drone and counter-drone projects.
Finally, recognising the vital importance of real-world operational feedback, the Commission has integrated Ukraine into the EU’s defence industrial ecosystem. The BraveTechEU connects the EU’s industrial muscle with Ukraine’s BRAVE1 platform, facilitating the rapid iteration of drone technologies based on current battlefield requirements. This cooperation is physically anchored by the EU Defence Innovation Office (EUDIO) in Kyiv, which acts as a primary hub for matchmaking and joint ventures between EU primes and Ukrainian innovators in defence and dual-use sectors. The Ukraine Support Instrument under EDIP (BraveUSI) provides a dedicated framework to procure from and co-produce with Ukrainian companies. The Mini-Omnibus has formally paved the way for Ukraine’s association with the EDF, allowing their industry to participate in EU-funded consortia and ensuring a unified technological front for European defence.
Regarding paragraph 92, the Commission refers to the ‘Defence Readiness Omnibus’ simplification package presented in June 2025 that aims - among other objectives - at introducing simpler, leaner and faster conditions for the transfer of defence-related products within the EU. The ‘Defence Readiness Omnibus’ is currently under interinstitutional negotiation. In addition, the Transfers Directive 2009/43/EC is currently being evaluated. In this context, the Commission notes that the Transfers Directive 2009/43/EC and Dual Use Regulation (EU) 2021/821 are distinct in scope, in terms of products they control and geographically (transfers versus exports): while the Transfers Directive 2009/43/EC deals with intra-EU transfers of defence-related products, which are controlled within the Union and need a transfer licence, the Dual Use Regulation (EU) 2021/821 only imposes licence requirements for a small subset of dual use items within the Union.
On paragraph 96, the Commission takes note of the Parliament’s call to address the EU’s dependency on Chinese rare earth metals that are essential for the defence industry. In 2025, the Commission has selected strategic extraction, processing and recycling projects for rare earths under the Critical Raw Materials (CRM) Act and launched the RESourceEU Action Plan to accelerate the implementation of the CRM Act. The Commission will set up a multi-pillars CRM financing hub to de-risk CRMs projects through a range of EU instruments, propose adjustments to the EU regulatory framework on permitting to improve the framework conditions helping projects become operational more quickly, and propose restrictions on the export of scraps and waste of permanent magnets from the EU by Q2 2026 to secure the necessary feedstock for domestic industry. Additionally, the Commission will establish a CRM Centre by Q2 2026 to support the EU’s long-term competitiveness and the resilience of the Single Market, by facilitating strategic stockpiling, joint purchasing operations, and demand–supply matchmaking. The Commission will also launch calls under Horizon Europe on innovative technologies for exploration, processing, recycling and substitution of critical and strategic raw materials.
Concerning the defence sector specifically, the Commission is addressing the EU's critical dependencies on Chinese rare earth metals and other strategic materials essential for the drone and counter-drone sectors by embedding supply chain resilience directly into the EDF. The Commission has launched specific "spin-in" actions, which facilitate the transition of advanced materials from civilian research into high-performance defence applications. To foster long-term resilience, the Commission also provides a dedicated pathway for radical technological shifts through the Non-Thematic Disruptive Research track. Under its Industrial Reinforcement pillar, EDIP also offers grants to modernise production capacities for raw materials, while the FAST Instrument provides funding to accelerate the transformation of SMEs within the defence supply chain. Furthermore, the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) instrument mobilises up to EUR150 billion in loans to support Member States in joint public investments - such as drone fleets and missile defence - creating the aggregated demand necessary to justify domestic material refining. These efforts are also structurally integrated with the USI that fosters joint ventures that utilise battlefield-tested, non-Chinese component solutions. By strictly enforcing a 35% cap on components from non-associated third countries, EDIP ensures that the innovations developed under the EDF transition into a sovereign, "battle-proven" European industrial base.
Regarding paragraph 97, the Commission will ensure compliance with eligibility criteria for major sub-components in EU-funded drone platforms, in line with regulations agreed and adopted by the co-legislators. The Commission’s stance is and will continue to be guided by a principle requiring a careful balance between providing the flexibility needed to meet Member States’ immediate needs and pursuing the long-term goals of greater sovereignty and autonomy.
On paragraph 106, the recently adopted Action Plan on Drone and Counter-Drone Security already covers a considerable number of recommendations of the European Parliament, especially when it comes to building synergies between civilian and defence R&D investment for both, drones and counter-drone systems. In this context, the Commission also underlines the contribution of civil security research and innovation under Horizon Europe – Cluster 3 “Civil Security for Society” – which supports the development of technologies enhancing resilience, protection of critical infrastructure and preparedness against emerging threats, including those linked to UAS. Such investments contribute to strengthening the Union’s technological base and strategic autonomy in security-related domains. Additionally, the Action Plan sets out a coordinated risk assessment – launched together by the Commission with Member States – on drone and counter-drone systems to ensure the security of related Information and Communications Technology (ICT) supply chains (in line with the recently adopted Cybersecurity Act review regulation), to potentially adopt a Drone and Counter-Drone Security Toolbox.
Concerning paragraph 118, the Commission fully recognises the importance of adapting its defence and defence-industrial policy instruments to ensure effective support for the development of drone and counter-drone capabilities. The Action Plan on Drone and Counter-Drone Security sets out a cohesive and strategic approach, consolidating and mapping all relevant EU initiatives in this domain to ensure alignment, consistency, and synergy, while accounting for the unique requirements of the defence sector.
As regards paragraph 137, the Commission and the High Representative share the Parliament’s assessment that the rapid evolution of drone technologies, their largely dual-use nature and their increasing use in hybrid and military contexts require a more integrated European response. Recent developments, including lessons drawn from ongoing conflicts, confirm that drone-related threats simultaneously affect internal security, the protection of critical infrastructure and defence, and therefore call for more coherent responses at Union level. The Commission considered the outlined priorities during the preparation and integrated them into the recently published Action Plan on Drone and Counter-Drone Security. The Action Plan will place particular emphasis on strengthening civil-military convergence, with a view to improving shared situational awareness and supporting Member States’ efforts on drone and counter-drone capabilities, including associated detection, command, coordination and protection functions. The Commission proposed EU flagship projects in the area of drones, the European Drone Defence Initiative and Eastern Flank Watch, and invited Member States to consider European defence projects of common interest in this area in the context of EDIP to reinforce and improve an interoperability of European drone defence capabilities. It will also aim to better align existing EU efforts to reduce fragmentation, promote greater coherence between capability priorities, innovation and industrial efforts, and foster interoperability of systems and procedures, recognising the inherently cross-border nature of drone-related threats and their potential to affect several Member States simultaneously. This approach will strengthen the Union’s collective ability to anticipate and manage complex and hybrid threat scenarios. The Action Plan will seek to reinforce coordination and solidarity at EU level, in support of Member States when the scale or nature of drone-related threats exceeds national capacities, while fully respecting Member States’ responsibilities. By combining strategic coherence, civil–military complementarity and a targeted use of existing instruments, this approach will contribute to enhancing the Union’s collective security, while preserving the conditions for the development of legitimate drone uses and Europe’s technological competitiveness.
On paragraph 140, the Commission shares the objective of developing strategic reserves and stockpiles of critical components and materials for UAS, Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) and Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV) systems to enhance the resilience of the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB). Through the EDIP, the Commission will have the possibility to support Member States in building and maintaining such reserves, leveraging the new EU-wide security of supply regime. This framework will enable targeted stockpiling of essential components while ensuring rapid crisis response for defence industrial readiness. To further strengthen this effort, the Commission will assess and enhance its understanding of Europe’s current and planned industrial production capacities, with a particular focus on drone and counter-drone systems, to ensure that industrial capacities align with strategic needs. Furthermore, the Commission and interested Member States are collaborating on a pilot project on the stockpiling CRMs to develop an effective and coordinated approach to stockpiling CRMs within the EU.
Concerning paragraph 147, the Commission takes note of the Parliament’s invitation to make use of funding programmes such as SAFE to highlight the need for EU countries to develop their drone industry. Procurement projects supported by SAFE based on Member States’ national plans will provisionally allocate EUR 7 billion to projects related to drones and counter-drones.
Regarding paragraph 188, the Commission attaches the utmost importance to informing the public about measures related to security and defence. Current communication initiatives focus on explaining existing policy framework and initiatives and aim to foster informed public debate, build trust, and ensure democratic accountability. The Commission is also actively communicating about what the EU is doing in the field of defence and security, including initiatives concerning both drone and counter-drone related technologies, and is stepping up these efforts towards stakeholders and citizens.
In respect to paragraph 190, the Commission notes that in March 2025 the Union of Skills was proposed, calling for the strengthening and streamlining of the Pact for Skills to support strategic sectors in their up and reskilling, including through the Large-Scale Partnerships. Reinforcing the Large-Scale Partnerships will support the development of sector-specific solutions, tackle fragmentation of initiatives and improve linkages between them. The Pact for Skills partnership focusing on the aerospace and defence industry is led by the Aerospace, Security and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD) and committed to work across three main areas: skills forecasting, up and reskilling programmes and talent development and engagement. Furthermore, the ASSETs+ Erasmus Blueprint project aims to dispel myths and biases associated with the defence sector while designing new courses and challenges for students.
On paragraph 199, the Commission is currently reviewing the existing EU Skills Academies in various sectors to assess factors of success. Based on this analysis, a targeted number of academies in strategic sectors – among others defence - will be rolled out to deliver the skills needed by industry for the green and digital transition and the Clean Industrial Deal. In the framework of the Defence transformation roadmap, the Commission has proposed to leverage existing EU online academies to foster defence-related skills in line with EU industry needs and strategic priorities. Building on this foundation, it will explore the establishment of a standalone EU Defence Industry Skills Academy from 2028 onward.
Concerning paragraphs 246 and 247, the Commission notes that the Staff Working Document accompanying the Military Mobility Package adopted in November 2025 highlights that fragmentation and limited availability of testing, validation and demonstration capacities constitute a barrier to the development, integration and operational uptake of emerging dual-use and civil-defence technologies. In response, the Commission, together with the EDA, is taking action to support the development of a Union-level civil-defence drone testing and demonstration network. Besides, the Commission is financially supporting alternatives for certified drones testing facilities that industries from Member States can leverage. The EDF, including via EUDIS, SAFE and EDIP dedicate significant attention to ease access from SMEs and innovative start-ups.
Regarding paragraph 250, the Commission agrees with the Parliament on the importance of reducing administrative burdens. In June 2025, the Commission presented the ‘Defence Readiness Omnibus’ simplification package that aims at introducing simpler, leaner and faster conditions for the transfer of defence-related products within the EU, a simplified permitting regime for defence-related projects, a reduction of the administrative burden to apply for EDF programmes, simplified reporting to comply with the REACH regulation on chemicals, as well as a clarification of eligibility of defence investments to access InvestEU and private funding.
As regard paragraph 255, the Commission recognises the crucial need to strengthen civil-military airspace coordination, especially with the integration of drones into U-space corridors under the Single European Sky initiative. The ongoing collaboration between the EDA, SESAR JU, SESAR Deployment Manager, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the European Commission is set to focus specifically on facilitating the insertion of civil and military drones into non-segregated airspace, addressing the related safety and security challenges that arise from these operations.
On paragraph 283, the Commission will examine ways to promote the use of standards applicable to civilian and military drone and counter-drone technologies, with a view to improving interoperability by leveraging instruments such as the EDIP and the EDF. This will build on ongoing work by the EASA, the EDA and the NATO to align civil-military standards.
Concerning paragraph 290, the Commission notes that the Military Mobility Package aims to establish a comprehensive set of measures to ensure the swift, coordinated and secure movement of military personnel and equipment within the Union and across the external borders. The proposed measures are designed to support interoperability and complementarity with NATO, while respecting the Union’s decision-making autonomy. After identification by Member States, an EU toolbox of protective measures complementing the Critical Entities Resilience (CER) Directive will ensure the protection of strategic dual-use infrastructure. This is complemented by efforts to support innovation and integration in the drone domain, notably through the establishment of an EU network of civil-defence drone testing centres, the development of a joint civil-military drone framework for airspace integration based on common standards and procedures, and the creation of a European regulatory framework for Counter-unmanned aircraft system technologies. Further initiatives include regulatory sandboxes under the EASA Basic Regulation, a harmonised certification framework for large drones, and closer cooperation between EASA and national military aviation authorities. The European Union Military Staff (EUMS) also provides unique military expertise on military mobility infrastructure developments while also has a formal cooperation and exchange of information with NATO to ensure alignment of efforts.
As regards paragraph 298, the Commission notes that as enlargement is a geostrategic imperative, it is important to keep enlargement partners firmly anchored to the EU also through close security cooperation. There is ongoing work within the European External Action Service (EEAS) to expand opportunities for the participation of the Western Balkans partners in the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), other security initiatives and joint work on resilience to cyber and hybrid threats, including disinformation. Against this backdrop, the Commission stands ready to facilitate cooperation and dialogue where appropriate for Member State-led initiatives, such as the European Defence Drone Initiative project.
On paragraph 312, the Commission and the High Representative welcome the Parliament’s call to further support, invest in and partner with the Ukrainian defence industry, recognising its critical role in strengthening Europe’s collective security. The experience of Russia’s war against Ukraine has demonstrated the scale, speed and adaptability of Ukraine’s defence industrial base, particularly in the field of drones and counter-drone systems, as well as its capacity to translate operational lessons rapidly into industrial output. The Commission remains committed to continue supporting Ukraine with the means and tools it has available, including through the implementation of the USI under the EDIP, as well as the Ukraine Support Loan. The experience of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has demonstrated the scale, speed and adaptability of Ukraine’s defence industrial base, particularly in the field of drones and counter-drone systems, as well as its capacity to translate operational lessons rapidly into industrial output. In this context, the Commission and the High Representative will continue to work towards deepening EU-Ukraine defence industrial cooperation, including through closer partnerships between both industries. This cooperation is envisaged as a mutually beneficial process, aimed at making more efficient use of existing production capacities, supporting industrial scale-up, and facilitating joint development, co-production and procurement efforts, in line with Member States’ initiatives and existing EU instruments. Building on Ukraine’s operational experience and innovation cycles, this approach will also contribute to strengthening Europe’s own industrial and defence readiness as well as its resilience. It will support closer integration between operational feedback, capability development and industrial production, while taking into account supply-chain security, interoperability and sustainability. In doing so, the Union will reinforce its long-term defence industrial cooperation with Ukraine, in a manner consistent with agreed priorities and respectful of Member States’ competences.