Simplifying the terms relating to investment in defense and defense supplies today (17.6.2025) proposed European Commissionin the context of Europe’s review efforts by 2030, the “Rearm Europe”.
In particular, the European Commission proposes the establishment of a quick licensing status for defense projects. Today the EU licensing process can take several years and the Commission proposes to reduce this time frame to 60 days.
It is also proposed to reduce the administrative burden on the European Defense Fund (EDF) for applicants and participants, while increased participation of Ukrainian entities will be facilitated.
“With this bundle, we submit ambitious proposals to reduce bureaucracy and facilitate defense investments of 800 billion euros that Member States must urgently undertake to achieve European defense readiness by 2030,” said Commissioner for Defense.
The money is not sufficient if “traditional bureaucracy, which can be adapted to peace time, kills industry’s efforts to increase production”, the European Defense Commissioner added, and recently stated that “it is not acceptable that the defense industry has to wait five years for a new year”.
“With the abolition of internal barriers, reducing bureaucracy and clarifying the rules, Europe will unleash the overwhelming financial burden, so that European defense industrial and technological capacity can be able to quickly and effectively strengthen,” said Economic and Productivity Commissioner and Productivity.
In addition, the Commission proposes to facilitate public contracts by encouraging common markets and increasing the thresholds of the contracts, thereby accelerating cross -border defense products. At the same time, the implementation of existing EU rules, such as competition legislation or environmental legislation, is clarified, it is ensured that regulations on chemical products meet defensive needs.
It is also proposed to improve access to funding, by rationalizing Investeu’s eligibility criteria, providing guidance on sustainable defense investments and clarifying the concept of prohibited weapons based on sustainable funding.
“Together, these changes aim to improve Europe’s ability to act quickly, coordinate more effectively, and ensure that its defense industry can produce results at speed,” the committee said. Its proposal should be approved by the European Parliament and the EU Council.
Source: RES – EIA