What is the European Defence Fund?

10.01.2023
News
What is the European Defence Fund?

The European Defence Fund (EDF) is regularly mentioned to illustrate the initiatives of the European Union aimed at strengthening its strategic autonomy, in particular in the context of the war in Ukraine.

What is it about?

The European Defence Fund (EDF) is a financial instrument created by the European Union in 2017 as part of the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). Published every year, the first call for proposals occurred in 2021.

The EDF aims to strengthen the EU’s ability to respond to the security challenges it faces, by investing in research and development of defence technologies and equipment and by encouraging Member States to cooperate on policy acquisition.

Recent events have highlighted the need for a rapid and coordinated response to a major crisis and underlined the importance of cooperation and solidarity between EU Member States. In a particularly tense context on the international scene, the European Defence Fund must meet several challenges.

Improving the interoperability of European equipment

In 2017, 178 different weapon systems in the EU (compared to 30 in the United States), 17 tank models (compared to 1 in the United States), 29 destroyer models (4 in the United States) and 20 models of fighter planes (against 6 in the United States) were counted. It goes without saying that this fragmentation generates substantial costs, and complicates the coordination of national armies. The objective of the EDF is to encourage national armies to have similar equipment systems and compatible technologies.

Promoting EU strategic independence in defence

At the present time, the EU’s dependence on the United States in particular is considered critical. The EDF could enable it to develop its own defence capabilities and thus be able to better respond to the threats hanging over it.

By stimulating cooperation between industrialists, it should also consolidate the defence industrial and technological base (BITD) at the European level.

Key figures

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BILLION EUROS FOR THE PERIOD 2021-2027

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BILLION EUROS ALLOCATED TO FUNDING COLLABORATIVE DEFENSE RESEARCH DEDICATED TO THE FIGHT AGAINST EMERGING AND FUTURE THREATS

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BILLION EUROS ALLOCATED TO CO-FINANCING COLLABORATIVE CAPACITY-BUILDING PROJECTS

WHAT ARE THE SELECTED PROJECTS?

 

The EDF is implemented through annual work programs structured in 17 stable thematic and horizontal action categories over the period covered by the 2021-2027 multiannual financial framework. These programs focus on:

  • the emerging challenges to be met in order to shape a multidimensional approach to contemporary issues. These include chemical, biological, nuclear and radiological (CBRN) threats, biotechnologies, defence medical support, information superiority, advanced passive and active sensors, cyberspace and space;
  • defence enablers that provide an essential technological boost to the EDF and are relevant in all capability areas: digital transformation, materials and components, energy resilience and environmental transition, “disruptive” technologies and open calls for innovative defence solutions, including specific calls for SMEs;
  • excellence in warfare, namely the integration of new capabilities and the promotion of ambitious defence systems, particularly in the areas of air combat, anti-missile defence, ground combat, protection and mobility forces, naval combat, submarine warfare, simulation and training.

The 2021 and 2022 editions

For its first edition, the European Defence Fund far exceeded its precursor programs (PADR and EDIDP), with 142 proposals submitted. Covering all the calls and topics published, the consortia formed brought together nearly 700 legal entities from 26 EU Member States and Norway: large companies, SMEs, and Research and Technology Organizations (ORTs).

The work program for the current edition, published in June 2022, revolves around 33 themes (see communication from the European Commission). It will have an overall budget of 924 million euros.

The results are expected in June 2023.

 

 

 

Sources: EU Commission’s website

 

GDRP*