White Paper for European Defence
Summary
The White Paper invites Member States to increase collaborative defence procurement and proposes fast consideration of SAFE and the European Defence Industry Programme. It calls for military support to Ukraine and greater integration of Ukraine's defence industry, mobility corridors and access to EU space-based governmental services. Further measures include a defence-industry dialogue, a Defence Omnibus Simplification proposal, an armament technology roadmap and military-mobility action.
Action items
1–6 of 12 items
Source order · D = digital dimension- Item 1
Member States are invited to request the activation of the National Escape Clause by the end of April.
- Item 2
The Council is invited to adopt the proposed draft Regulation on Security and Action for Europe (SAFE) as a matter of urgency.
- Item 3
The co-legislators are invited to adopt the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP) before Summer, including its Ukraine Support Instrument (USI).
- Item 4
The co-legislators are invited to consider with priority the changes to the European Regional Development Fund that will by proposed by the end of March 2025. Following the mid-term review of cohesion policies, national, regional and local authorities will be able to voluntarily allocate funds within their current programmes towards emerging priorities including strengthening defence and security capabilities.
- Item 5
Member States are invited to swiftly step up collaborative defence procurement in line with the target of at least 40% proposed by the European Defence Industry Strategy (EDIS), including under the aegis of the SAFE instrument.
- Item 6
Member States are invited to swiftly agree on an ambitious new military support initiative for Ukraine, including artillery ammunition, air defence and ‘train and equip’.