Close partners, strong cooperation

EDA has played a crucial role
By Pierre Delsaux, Deputy Director General, European Commission (DG GROW)

“Defence matters in a world that is unsettled by increasing international disorder. In response to changing and challenging geopolitics, European leaders decided to join forces to strengthen Europe’s common security and defence. Driven by strong political consensus that Member States can no longer address security challenges on their own, a number of initiatives have been launched at the European Union level for the EU to become a more effective security provider. EDA has played a crucial role in this respect. The Agency has been traditionally the forum where Member States define capability development projects and jointly invest in those projects and in collaborative defence research projects. The expertise of the EDA in both capability development and in defence research has greatly contributed to the EU defence initiatives.

The Commission’s contribution to defence at EU  level  is  the  European  Defence  Fund  (EDF)  and  its  two  preceding  test  programmes,  the Preparatory Acton on Defence Research (PADR)  and  the  European  Defence  Industrial  Development Programme (EDIDP).

Both  the  test  programmes  and  the  EDF  aim  at  deeper  cooperation  in  the  EU  in  the  areas  of  defence  research  and  development.  By  funding  collaborative  projects  proposed  by  consortia  formed  by  entities  such  as  companies  and  research organisations across the Member States, the Commission intends to support the advantages that new technologies can deliver as a key tool to develop the military instruments.In  this  context,  the  military  input  to  capability  development is an integrated part of a broader effort,  managed  by  EDA  through  the  Capability  Development Plan.The  EUMC,  supported  by  the  EU  Military  Staff,  regularly  provides  two  out  of  the  four  strands  used in the Capability Development Process.Technological superiority is a must for European defence  and  an  essential  requirement  in  order  to  fully  achieve  the  potential  of  the  EU  Global  Strategy.innovation and competitiveness of the defence industry so that industry can provide the military capabilities that the armed forces in the Member States need. For the PADR, the Commission found a  good  partner  in  EDA  that  has  been  fulfilling  the  task  of  implementing  the  programme  in  a  complementary and satisfactory way

The ambition of the Commission is high. The EDF, PADR  and  EDIP  can  be  a  real  game-changer  in  how industrial defence cooperation is organised within Europe: big military flagship programmes could be developed within the next decade.

But  the  PADR,  EDIDP  and  EDF  do  not  exist  in  isolation.  Other  important  defence  initiatives  by  Member  States,  like  CARD  and  PESCO,  for  which EDA is the secretariat also aim at greater defence  cooperation.  All  these  initiatives  have  common goals, namely to make sure that the EU has the defence capabilities it needs. Linkages between these initiatives are important and equally important are the relationships between the  respective  institutions  dealing  with  the  implementation.  EDA,  with  its  expertise,  could  play an important role to help the Member States develop the capabilities they need.

First,  the  EDF  focuses  on  the  supply  side  of  defence  capabilities.  The  Commission  will  fund  projects  proposed  by  industry  and  research  centres that can ‘supply’ a good solution for  a  defence  capability.  PESCO  and  CARD  can  have  a  role  in  streamlining  the  demand  Security and defence are difficult and costly to  build  and  to  maintain,  but  very  easy  to  lose.  EDA  and  the  EUMC  are  both  expressions  of  Member States’ voice, although with different but complementary roles.On the one side, EDA supports the development of  defence  capabilities,  acts  as  a  catalyst,  promotes collaboration and introduces solutions to improve defence capabilities.On the other side, the EUMC represents the Chiefs of Defence and through them it ensures that the voice of the military end-users is heard in the EU institutions  and  that  it  is  incorporated  into  the  decision-making process at all stages and levels of the EU’s CSDP. For this reason, the cooperation between the two  entities  is  paramount  in  order  to  ensure  coherence in the overall development efforts and to make sure all actors involved are able to play a role in this endeavour”.side  of  a  capability.  Member  States  can  align  their  technical  requirements  for  a  specific  defence  capability  within  the  PESCO  and  CARD  framework, which is a requirement for some EDF actions.

Second,  the  capability  part  of  the  EDF  is  implemented  through  a  co-financing  mechanism. The Commission awards grants -at  different  percentage  rates  depending  on  the  stage  of  the  development  process-  from  the  EU  budget  to  selected  projects.  Member  States  commit  to  finance  the  remaining  costs. Synchronisation of national budget commitments  to  capability  priorities  of  the  EDF  is  crucial  for  projects  to  kick-off.  As  this  is  not  easy  to  achieve,  PESCO  and  CARD  can  assist  to  anticipate needed commitments and streamline defence  budgetary  planning  of  the  Member  States.

Third,  the  EDF  focuses  on  projects  where  EU  added-value can be demonstrated. The EDF’s objective is not to address all the capability gaps identified in the Capability Development Plan (CDP),  as  this  is  the  responsibility  of  Member  States.  As  Member  States  have  an  important  role in the implementation of the Fund, namely in defining the joint defence priorities within the  Programme  Committee  that  decides  on  the  work-programme,  they  may  take,  for  coherence  reasons, priorities of the CDP, PESCO or CARD.

In  sum,  the  different  defence  initiatives  all  deal  with  a  different  aspect  of  enhanced  defence  cooperation. But only through consistency and good relations between the defence initiatives and  therefore  also  the  European  institutions  and  agencies  can  we  achieve  the  shared  goal,  namely  the  delivery  of  European  military  capabilities”.

Cooperation between EUMC and EDA is paramount
By General Claudio Graziano, Chairman of the EU Military Committee (EUMC)

“As  stated  in  the  EU  Global  Strategy,  the  EU  should  be  credible,  responsive  and  joined-up.  It  also  acknowledges  the  need  for  the  EU  to  further  develop  its  hard  power  and,  as  a  result,  its military instruments.

In  this  context,  the  military  input  to  capability  development is an integrated part of a broader effort,  managed  by  EDA  through  the  Capability  Development Plan.

The  EUMC,  supported  by  the  EU  Military  Staff,  regularly  provides  two  out  of  the  four  strands  used in the Capability Development Process.

Technological superiority is a must for European defence  and  an  essential  requirement  in  order  to  fully  achieve  the  potential  of  the  EU  Global  Strategy.

Security and defence are difficult and costly to  build  and  to  maintain,  but  very  easy  to  lose.  EDA  and  the  EUMC  are  both  expressions  of  Member States’ voice, although with different but complementary roles.

On the one side, EDA supports the development of  defence  capabilities,  acts  as  a  catalyst,  promotes collaboration and introduces solutions to improve defence capabilities.

On the other side, the EUMC represents the Chiefs of Defence and through them it ensures that the voice of the military end-users is heard in the EU institutions  and  that  it  is  incorporated  into  the  decision-making process at all stages and levels of the EU’s CSDP. 

For this reason, the cooperation between the two  entities  is  paramount  in  order  to  ensure  coherence in the overall development efforts and to make sure all actors involved are able to play a role in this endeavour”.

Close cooperation between EDA and EUMS is essential
By Lieutenant General Esa Pulkkinen, Director General of the EU Military Staff (EUMS)

“This  year  is  the  15th  birthday  of  the  European  Defence  Agency  (EDA),  established  in  2004  with  the  aim  to  support  the  Member  States  and  the  Council  in  their  efforts  to  improve  European  defence  capabilities  in  the  field  of  crisis  management  and  to  sustain  the  European  Security and Defence Policy as it stands now and develops in the future.

Today, undoubtedly, the Agency has extended its original  mission  taking  into  account  significant  changes  challenging  the  avaailability  of  military  capabilities to meet political strategic objectives derived from a Global Strategy for the Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union. This applies in  particular  for  the  main  priorities:  to  respond  to  external conflicts and crisis, to build capacities of partners and to protect the Union and its citizens.

Close  cooperation  between  EDA  and  the  EUMS  is  essential.  Over  the  last  three  years  this  has  led  to  an  increased  level  of  cooperation  at  all  levels and resulted in constructive dialogue – it is through cooperation the goals and interests of the European Union will ultimately be met”.

Fruitful cooperation
By Arturo Alfonso Meiriño, OCCAR Director

“As  one  of  the  members  of  its  pioneer’s  team,  I  am  very  happy  and  proud  to  see  EDA  reaching  its  15th  anniversary.  Its  creation  was  most  definitely  a  turning  point  in  the  way  defence  business was addressed at supranational level  in  Europe.  The  immediate  launch  and  subsequent  implementation  of  the  four  EDA  flagships  at  that  time  -  defence  industry  and  market strategy, research and technology, armaments cooperation strategies and Capability Development Plan - paved the way for the recent EU defence initiatives. 

Whilst the Organisation Conjointe de Cooperation en matière d’Armement (OCCAR) was already operating with its legal status since 2001, cooperation with EDA was foreseen from the Agency’s outset. The Council statement ESA  and  EDA  share  several  common  traits  for  having shaped, throughout the years, very similar philosophies and work cultures: we are agencies  that  innovate  and  build,  on  behalf  of  our  respective  Member  States,  programmes  and  technologies that are instrumental in delivering critical services while helping shape Europe’s role in the world. This shared disposition of developing innovative, user-driven programmes has been the driving force to our joint efforts, our very purpose and what will shape our future cooperation. Space  is  central  to  security:  space  assets  produce  and  deliver  data  and  services  of  critical  of  10  November  2008,  inviting  EDA  to  seek  the  greatest  synergy  with  OCCAR,  came  as  no surprise. Both organisations share their European  identity  and  the  need  to  strengthen  the competitiveness of the European defence technological and industrial base as a key factor to  develop  the  defence  capabilities  needed  in  Europe to face current and future threats.

EDA  and  OCCAR  concluded  an  Administrative  Arrangement in 2012 by which both organisations sought and continue to seek that their activities are mutually reinforcing, non-duplicative, coherent  and  complementary.  Whilst  EDA  has  a  prominent  upstream  role  in  the  identification  of  military  capabilities  with  the  promotion  of  joint  activities,  research  and  technology  and  harmonisation  of  requirements,  OCCAR  is  fully  importance  to  the  full  spectrum  of  security.  ESA,  as Europe’s space agency, has for decades been adamant about pioneering European intergovernmental, cooperative programmes to  maximise  benefits  for  a  wide-range  set  of  communities focused on science and applications. In this context, the growing relationship with EDA  has  been  a  welcomed  evolution.  The  ESA/EDA administrative arrangement signed in 2011 provides  a  structured  relationship  to  achieve  shared goals. Our cooperation has since explored domains that have significant bearing on increasing  the  effectiveness  of  space  systems  for  security,  be  it  in  critical  space  technologies  engaged in the downstream part of the process, focused mainly on the development, production and In-Service Support (ISS) phases associated to obtaining these military capabilities.

Thera  are  a  number  of  examples  of  fruitful  cooperation  between  EDA  and  OCCAR.    Programmes  such  as  ESSOR,  MMF,  MMCM  or  MUSIS  originated  in  EDA  and  were  then  transitioned to OCCAR by those Member States that were willing to bring those projects to their next  stage.  I  am  convinced  that  we  will  see  more examples of such fruitful cooperation in  the  short  term.  PADR,  EDIDP  and  PESCO  are  European initiatives in which cooperation is at stake  and  EDA  and  OCCAR  can  support  them  by transforming these policies into tangible results.

My  most  sincere  congratulations  to  EDA  for  these  15  years  full  of  initiatives  in  support  of  European Member States and the Council in their effort to improve European defence capabilities in the field of crisis management. I look forward to our continued cooperation and to the success of both organisations”.

Effective synergies for the benefit of Europe
By Jan Woerner, Director General of the European Space Agency (ESA)

ESA  and  EDA  share  several  common  traits  for  having shaped, throughout the years, very similar philosophies and work cultures: we are agencies  that  innovate  and  build,  on  behalf  of  our  respective  Member  States,  programmes  and  technologies that are instrumental in delivering critical services while helping shape Europe’s role in the world. This shared disposition of developing innovative, user-driven programmes has been the driving force to our joint efforts, our very purpose and what will shape our future cooperation.

Space  is  central  to  security:  space  assets  produce  and  deliver  data  and  services  of  critical importance  to  the  full  spectrum  of  security.  ESA,  as Europe’s space agency, has for decades been adamant about pioneering European intergovernmental, cooperative programmes to  maximise  benefits  for  a  wide-range  set  of  communities focused on science and applications. In this context, the growing relationship with EDA  has  been  a  welcomed  evolution.  The  ESA/EDA administrative arrangement signed in 2011 provides  a  structured  relationship  to  achieve  shared goals. Our cooperation has since explored domains that have significant bearing on increasing  the  effectiveness  of  space  systems  for  security,  be  it  in  critical  space  technologies for European non-dependence, cyber resilience R&D and training, space-based imagery needs or secured satellite communications, to name but  a  few  of  our  joint  policy  and  programmatic  efforts. New opportunities to grow together in this relationship are multiple and offer an already promising horizon.

Over  the  last  decade,  ESA  has  conducted  a  strategic evolution of its role towards its Member States  and  users  of  space  systems  alike.  Its  relationship  with  EDA  has  been  instrumental  in  progressively and successfully adapting itself to the requirements and culture of new communities, tackling  specific  technological  and  policy  areas  and  delivering  on  objectives  enshrined  in  our  respective  mandates.    The  trust,  which  ESA  and  EDA have together built with our Member States is testimony of the confidence our stakeholders give us in this endeavour, and which emboldens us to further strive in this strategic direction”. 

Cooperation makes perfect sense
By Alexander Stubb, Vice-President of the European Investment Bank

“The  EU  is  facing  an  increasingly  complex  and  volatile  range  of  security  threats.  Which  is  why  I  find  it  only  natural  that  the  European  Council in October 2017 encouraged the European  Investment  Bank,  the  EU  bank,  to  examine  further  steps  that  can  be  taken  to  support investments in defence research and development  activities.  We,  here  at  the  EIB,  took  this  task  seriously.  The  EIB  approved  the  European Security Initiative - Protect, Secure, Defend,  which  has  strengthened  our  support  for RDI for dual-use technologies, cybersecurity and civilian security infrastructure. The initiative “I  would  like  to  congratulate  EDA  on  its  15th  Anniversary.  It’s  an  important  milestone,  and  I  am very glad that our two Agencies have built up a  strong  cooperation,  over  more  than  a  decade  of partnership. This cooperation has intensified over  the  years  and  has  become  instrumental  when  it  comes  to  military  involvement  in  Single  European Sky (SES) implementation and SESAR research, development and deployment. Our strategic partnership has helped ensure that relevant EC implementing regulations and EASA  rulemaking  take  due  regard  of  military  Over  the  years,  EDA  and  SESAR  JU  have  built  up  a  very  solid  cooperation,  guided  by  the  principle  that the European airspace is a resource shared by  all  airspace  users  whose  specific  needs  must  be  taken  fully  into  account.    This  relationship  has  been  key  to  ensuring  the  active  engagement  of  the  military  in  all  aspects  of  the  SESAR  research  and innovation programme, from setting the aims to provide financing of €6 billion by 2021.

The  EIB  and  EDA  have  teamed  up  to  support  the  EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy. 

As  first  steps,  EDA  and  the  EIB  have  signed  a  memorandum of understanding to strengthen cooperation, and now envisage cooperation in the Cooperative Financial Mechanism (CFM). The  CFM  is  foreseen  as  a  mechanism  for  EDA  Member  States  to  financially  support  the  set  up  and  conduct  of  the  development  of  military  technology.  The  EIB’s  role  in  the  CFM  would  requirements  to  avoid  adverse  impacts  on  military training and exercises. It  is  also  a  great  example  of  sharing  efforts  and  avoiding duplication: EDA has the role to facilitate military  views  at  EU  level,  while  EUROCOONTROL  provides operational and technical level expertise  and  solutions  to  best  support  military  and civil aviation in Europe.In that context, the civil-military cooperation and collaboration  in  ATM,  CNS  and  Security  is  one  of  the  key  enablers  for  achieving  the  SES  goals,  strategic vision for Europe’s skies in the European ATM Master Plan, to prioritising the research needs and then contributing to validating the resulting technologies and procedures (SESAR Solutions). We  believe  this  strong  level  of  cooperation  and  trust  between  civil  and  military  stakeholders,  enabled  through  the  SESAR  JU-EDA  relationship,  focus on supporting the development of dual use technologies.

Additionally, the two organisations will exchange expertise,  in  particular  with  a  view  to  identify  possible financing opportunities for defence and security-related research and technology projects  of  interest  to  the  Member  States  participating  in  EDA.  This  could  include  both  projects  promoted  by  the  Member  States,  such  as  those  in  the  context  of  the  recently  launched  PESCO,  as  well  as  projects  promoted  by  companies  including  small  and  medium-sized  enterprises  in  the  defence  and  security  sector.  Given  the  risks  and  the  emergence  of  new threats across all areas of the economy, we see  it  as  the  EIB’s  mission  to  provide  financing  for  innovative  solutions  to  help  tackle  some  of  these  challenges.  It  makes  perfect  sense  that  we cooperate closely with EDA on this task”.

Example of sharing efforts and avoiding duplication
By Eamonn Brennan, Director General of EUROCONTROL

“I  would  like  to  congratulate  EDA  on  its  15th  Anniversary.  It’s  an  important  milestone,  and  I  am very glad that our two Agencies have built up a  strong  cooperation,  over  more  than  a  decade  of partnership. This cooperation has intensified over  the  years  and  has  become  instrumental  when  it  comes  to  military  involvement  in  Single  European Sky (SES) implementation and SESAR research, development and deployment. 

Our strategic partnership has helped ensure that relevant EC implementing regulations and EASA  rulemaking  take  due  regard  of  military requirements  to  avoid  adverse  impacts  on  military training and exercises.

It  is  also  a  great  example  of  sharing  efforts  and  avoiding duplication: EDA has the role to facilitate military  views  at  EU  level,  while  EUROCOONTROL  provides operational and technical level expertise  and  solutions  to  best  support  military  and civil aviation in Europe.

In that context, the civil-military cooperation and collaboration  in  ATM,  CNS  and  Security  is  one  of  the  key  enablers  for  achieving  the  SES  goals, and  ensuring  that  the  European  ATM  Network  performs  well  and  benefits  both  its  civil  and  its  military  users.  The  new  Network  Functions  Implementing Regulation, the outcomes of the  Airspace  Architecture  Study  and  the  Wise  Persons Group have provided EUROCONTROL, which has just been reappointed by the European Commission as Network Manager until 2029, with guidance and targets in order to master the current capacity shortages in Europe’s skies, and  to  establish  a  better  performing  European  ATM Network.

The  excellent  relationship  built  on  trust  and  cooperation between EDA and EUROCONTROL will  be  key  in  the  future  also  for  the  efficient  and  effective  accommodation  of  military  and  civil  aviation  needs  in  a  spirit  of  balanced  considerations between economic needs, and security and defence requirements”.

Very solid cooperation
By Florian Guillermet, Executive Director of SESAR Joint Undertaking

Over  the  years,  EDA  and  SESAR  JU  have  built  up  a  very  solid  cooperation,  guided  by  the  principle  that the European airspace is a resource shared by  all  airspace  users  whose  specific  needs  must  be  taken  fully  into  account.    This  relationship  has  been  key  to  ensuring  the  active  engagement  of  the  military  in  all  aspects  of  the  SESAR  research  and innovation programme, from setting the strategic vision for Europe’s skies in the European ATM Master Plan, to prioritising the research needs and then contributing to validating the resulting technologies and procedures (SESAR Solutions). 

We  believe  this  strong  level  of  cooperation  and  trust  between  civil  and  military  stakeholders,  enabled  through  the  SESAR  JU-EDA  relationship, are  key  to  achieving  the  Single  European  Sky  and  ensuring  that  the  airspace  is  used  in  the  most  optimal  way  by  all  those  that  seek  to  access  it.  In  this  respect,  we  need  to  continue  to  work  together to harmonise civil-military procedures and technologies, without placing unacceptable constraints on either stakeholder groups.

We  must  also  strive  to  find  ways  to  share  information and infrastructure in the more cost effective  and  efficient  way.  The  technologies  are  there  for  greater  interoperability  and  connectivity  between  civil  and  military  stakeholders.  We  look  forward to building on our current collaboration so that we can go further together in the future”.