EU wants more efficient weapons industry – DW – 03/05/2024

Under the influence and lessons learned from the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, the European Union (EU) presented for the first time this Tuesday (03/05/2024) a strategy for the European arms industry. Its purpose is to replace launched programs informal Shaped the performance of the European defense industry after the beginning of the invasion and in the longer term.

According to Brussels, a European arms strategy is particularly necessary to counteract fragmentation within that industry. This means that the 27 EU member states independently equip their armies with weapons that are often inconsistent in their operational capability and, above all, without unifying their purchasing power. Furthermore, fragmentation means there is no competition between suppliers, explained Margrethe Vestager, vice-president of the European Commission (EC) in Brussels.

“This leads to massive inefficiency and inefficient use of tax revenues. Furthermore, member states spend their own money on different types of weapons,” Vestager stressed at a press conference. Because of this, there are sometimes five different variants of the same weapon.

With this new EU strategy, the aim is to ensure that the European arms industry can produce faster, better and jointly, highlighted Thierry Breton, the EU Commissioner responsible for the internal market in Brussels. To achieve this, the Election Commission proposes several measures.

Joint acquisition of arms should be the norm

The central proposition is that joint weapons acquisition should be the norm in the future. To achieve this, a new body will be created consisting of the European Commission, the High Representative for Foreign Policy, the Head of the European Defense Agency and the Member States. Its function: to determine the needs of member states regarding arms purchases and allow coordination. There should also be common rules on procurement, tax incentives and EU funds for defense cooperation.

The EC has committed a total of 1.5 billion euros for the years 2025 to 2027, so that the European defense industry has greater capacity to adapt. There is also the possibility of using the proceeds of Russian remittances to the EU to support Ukraine. As an indicator of success, the EC says at least 40 percent of military equipment should be jointly procured by 2030.

Dick Zandi, a senior researcher at the Clingendael Institute of International Relations in the Netherlands, considers the figure ambitious, especially considering recent times. In 2021, about 18 percent of defense products were purchased jointly by EU member states. And member states had already set a target of 35 percent in 2007.

More weapons were purchased in Europe

Above all, it is also about the quantity of weapons purchased by EU countries. According to Vestager data, they spent more than 100 billion euros on defense equipment from the start of the Russian war in Ukraine until June 2023. Of that amount, about 80 percent was purchased outside the EU, and about 60 percent was purchased from manufacturers in the United States.

According to the new strategy, at least 50 percent of arms funds should be spent within the EU by 2030. And by 2035, 60 percent. It is also important for the EC to achieve greater independence in European arms supplies. In view of the possible victory of Donald Trump in the presidential elections to be held in the United States in November, Margrethe Vestager said, “Regardless of the electoral dynamics in the United States, we have to take more responsibility for our own security.” That the EU maintains its commitment to NATO.

Pia Fuhrop, an analyst at the Science and Politics Foundation in Berlin, told DW that these objectives could provoke controversy among member states, as many Eastern European countries, as well as Germany and Italy, traditionally maintain close arms ties with the United States. Are. Fuhrhop stressed that, however, there are certainly more skeptical states, who would advocate for credible alternatives within the EU market.

How likely is this strategy to work?

As things stand, the European arms industry applauds the European Commission’s plans. “We fully support the Commission’s objective of improving Europe’s defense capabilities and we welcome the fact that the strategy focuses on boosting the European defense industry,” Jan Pie, secretary general of the Aerospace Industries Association, said in a statement. Is.” and the defense of Europe. But the success of the strategy depends on member states.

EU Member States must not only vote early within the framework of the legislative procedure on the legislation that will implement the strategy, but they must also subsequently put this legislation into practice. Pia Fuhrhop pointed out that it depends on the willingness of the Member States, which have decision-making power in the field of defence, whether they are willing to harmonize their military planning and agree on common standards.

Dick Zandi hopes that this strategy will be well accepted by the EU countries, as they have already participated in its development. However, it may take some time for the law to be approved.

(CP/RML)