EU member states have approved the first five European Defence Projects of Common Interest, a new framework for countries to develop major military capabilities together.
The projects cover drones, maritime security, space systems, air and missile defense, and protection of Europe’s eastern flank.
According to the Council of the EU, the projects are designed to bring countries together on defense initiatives too large or complex for individual states to develop alone.
What the Projects Cover
The Drone and Counter-Drone European Resolve project aims to expand the development and deployment of drones and systems to defend against them.
Integrated Maritime and Seabed Defence will focus on detecting and responding to threats at sea and underwater.
The SPACE project includes missile-launch warning satellites, secure communications, surveillance, navigation, and the ability to replace satellites quickly.
Another project, EU Federated Integrated Air and Missile Defence, is designed to connect early warning and command systems across participating countries.
Eastern Flank Watch will address threats along Europe’s eastern border across land, air, sea and cyber domains.
Funding and Next Steps
The European Commission has set aside 325 million euros ($369 million) from the 1.5-billion-euro ($1.7 billion) European Defence Industry Programme to support the establishment and initial deployment of the projects.
After member states approve the projects, the commission will work with participating countries on implementation and track progress against agreed milestones.
The projects are expected to extend beyond the program’s current funding period.
On average, 18 EU member states participate in each project, according to the European Commission.
Ukraine is involved in four of the five, and the framework is also open to Norway.
