What we do BG

Mission

The European Defence Agency was established under a Joint Action of the Council of Ministers on 12 July, 2004, "to support the Member States and the Council in their effort 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”.

To implement the provisions of the Lisbon Treaty (Art.42 TEU), this Joint Action was first replaced by a  Council Decision on 12 July 2011 which was revised by Council decision (CFSP) 2015/1835 of 12 October 2015 on the statute, seat and operational rules of the EDA.

The European Defence Agency, within the overall mission set out in the before-mentioned Council decision, has three main missions:

  • supporting the development of defence capabilities and military cooperation among the European Union Member States;

  • stimulating defence Research and Technology(R&T) and strengthening the European defence industry;

  • acting as a military interface to EU policies.

EDA acts as a catalyst, promotes collaborations, launches new initiatives and introduces solutions to improve defence capabilities. It is the place where Member States willing to develop capabilities in cooperation do so. It is also a key facilitator in developing the capabilities necessary to underpin the Common Security and Defence Policy of the Union.

Long Term Review 2024

After a first European Defence Agency Long-Term Review carried out in 2016-2017 and in line with the European Union’s need to step up its security and defence ambitions, Ministers of Defence increased the number of EDA’s core tasks from three to five by endorsing an update of the Agency’s mandate in May 2024. This decision also reflects the Strategic Compass’ call for the development of innovative capabilities against the full spectrum of threats. 

As strategic guidance given to EDA, the 2024 Long-Term Review adopted by Ministers of Defence outlines the following core tasks for the Agency, with a stronger focus on supporting Member States through the full development cycle of military capabilities: 

  1. Identifying shared needs and priorities at EU level to ensure that EU Member States’ armed forces have the capabilities they actually require, 
  2. Enabling collaborative defence research, technology, and innovation, to prepare the future of EU defence, 
  3. Harmonising requirements and engaging in joint capability development, while ensuring interoperability, 
  4. Aggregating demand towards joint procurement, to fill capabilities shortfalls, 
  5. Interfacing with EU civilian and defence policies, voicing Ministries of Defence's joint positions. 

The first four core tasks reflect the corresponding, indispensable steps of the capability development cycle. In line with the Treaty on European Union, EDA supports Ministries of Defence (MoDs) in each of these steps towards the further development and procurement of capabilities. But EDA can also support the execution of the whole project cycle, including limited, off-the-shelf acquisitions, when ministries so decide.  

Under the fifth core task, EDA will cooperate closely with the relevant EU stakeholders to ensure that EU civilian policies appropriately reflect defence needs. EDA will also forge stronger and more structured ties with the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the European Commission services and contribute its expertise to current and future EU defence initiatives, policies, and legislation related to the capability development cycle and beyond.  

To voice Member States’ joint positions and ensure the coherent alignment of current and future EU defence initiatives, policies, and legislation, EDA will act as a facilitator and, where appropriate, as a balancing actor within the EU.  

EDA’s 2024 Long Term Review conclusions and recommendations are available here.