EDIP: Invest in weapons that make Europe autonomous

The EPP Group welcomes today's final adoption of the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP) as a next step in strengthening Europe’s defence industry capabilities and supporting Ukraine.

 "With EDIP, the long-term program boosting European cooperation on defence industry, we ensure that European countries will invest in weapons that guarantee them full autonomy of action", says Francois-Xavier Bellamy MEP, the Parliament's co-negotiator for the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy.

 "After decades of dangerous dependencies that threatened the sovereignty of our democracies and protection of our Member States, EDIP support the strengthening of our industrial base and autonomously ensures that our armed forces have the means to fulfil their mission", continues Bellamy. 

 "The adoption of EDIP, the first comprehensive European Defence Industry Programme that also supports the Ukrainian industry, marks an important step towards Defence Readiness 2030. EDIP provides industry, Member States and Ukraine with powerful tools such as rules for common procurement, joint projects on crucial defence capabilities and security of supply", explains Michael Gahler MEP, the EPP Group's negotiator of EDIP in Parliament's Security and Defence Committee. 

 "Regrettably, with a budget of 1,5 billion euros, a substantial difference between EDIP's ambition and the funding provided remains. In light of the threat we are facing, we cannot afford to wait for a reinforced European defence budget in 2028. The time to act is now", underlines Gahler.