• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • COMTECH banner

BATTLESPACE Updates

   +44 (0)77689 54766
   

  • Home
  • Features
  • News Updates
  • Defence Engage
  • Company Directory
  • About
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Media Pack 2023

THE NEW EUROPEAN DEFENCE AGENCY

June 18, 2004 by

THE NEW EUROPEAN DEFENCE AGENCY – GETTING ABOVE THE CLOUDS

15 Jun 04. A year ago, in a joint declaration, we urged Member States to beef up their spending on defence research, technology and acquisition, to turn their political commitment on new defence capabilities into concrete realities, and to make better use of limited budgets through the launching of a European Defence Agency. One year later, good progress has been made at the institutional level – an Agency is now in the making, with the opportunity to make a real difference. But all depends on whether Member States will give their creation the resources and support it will need. Having willed the end, they must now will the means.

Since the intention to create a European Defence Agency, under the control of Member States, was announced by European leaders at Thessaloniki in June 2003, Europe’s machinery has moved at remarkable speed to develop the concept. Its establishment is due to be approved by the European Council this week. Its responsibilities include the development of Europe’s military capabilities, the support of strategic technology research, better armaments co-operation, creation of a competitive defence equipment market, and strengthening the defence industrial technology base. Each of these tasks is essential to European security and each is of utmost importance to the defence industry in Europe. Creation of the Agency should be a landmark event.

At last, and not before time, there is the opportunity to pull together demand in Europe and to bring some of the efficiencies of European scale to a sector which continues mainly to operate in a nationally fragmented environment. This is now of urgent and vital importance both for ensuring that Europe gets the military equipment and systems that its forces need and for sustaining our defence technological and industrial capabilities.

But, faced with many institutional and practical challenges, there is a serious risk that the Agency will fall short of the ambitions and expectations set for it. Slowness in the next stage of build-up, complexity of decision-making processes, and a lack of resources, notably for Research & Technology investment, would inhibit its full development. There is a danger that it may not achieve in a reasonable timeframe its goals in relation to an effective European defence equipment market and competitive technological and industrial base. From industry’s perspective there are four keys to unlocking rapid progress.

First, capabilities. Taken as a whole, Europe’s national defence budgets still provide disappointing levels of military output. The European Capability Action Plan (ECAP) was launched to help remedy the problem, but with only partial success to date. The Agency should revitalise this process, setting clear targets for deciding the way forward in the different project groups and thus immediately bringing to a head decisions on the capability shortfalls that have already been identified.

Second, research investment. Structurally this is the link between what our forces need and industry’s ability to provide it. Unnecessary duplication of defence research expenditure in Europe has to come to an end. Other European bodies have been in the past tasked with achieving better co-ordination: but the Agency must do much better than this. We need to agree upon a strategic research agenda and consolidate funds that can deliver it. Control of a modest budget is the surest way to give the Agency the authority it needs. We urge EU governments to take the long term view of strategic research and place resources where they can deliver most combined effect.

The third key concerns the European defence equipment market. This provides the structural link between Armed Forces’ equipment needs and their economically efficient delivery. While the number of collaborative armaments programmes has increased over the years, most defence equipment is still procured

Primary Sidebar

Advertisers

  • qioptiq.com
  • Exensor
  • TCI
  • Visit the Oxley website
  • Visit the Viasat website
  • Blighter
  • SPECTRA
  • Britbots logo
  • Faun Trackway
  • Systematic
  • CISION logo
  • ProTEK logo
  • businesswire logo
  • ProTEK logo
  • ssafa logo
  • AtkinsRealis logo
  • IEE
  • EXFOR logo
  • sibylline logo
  • Team Thunder logo
  • Commando Spirit - Blended Scoth Whisy
  • Comtech logo
  • GoExporting logo
  • ECHODYNE logo
  • Supercat logo
  • Galvion logo
  • Leonardo DRS logo
  • MTC logo
  • IDC logo
  • IDC logo
  • DVD2024 logo
Hilux Military Raceday Novemeber 2023 Chepstow

Contact Us

BATTLESPACE Publications
Old Charlock
Abthorpe Road
Silverstone
Towcester NN12 8TW

+44 (0)77689 54766

BATTLESPACE Technologies

An international defence electronics news service providing our readers with up to date developments in the defence electronics industry.

Recent News

  • Congress Avoids Government Shutdown

    October 1, 2023
    Read more
  • UK Forces Deployed to Kosovo

    October 1, 2023
    Read more
  • RAF Fighter Jets Deploy To Poland

    October 1, 2023
    Read more

Copyright BATTLESPACE Publications © 2002–2023.

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. If you continue to use the website, we'll assume you're ok with this.   Read More  Accept
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT