The European Union must equip itself with military capabilities to guarantee the credibility of the objectives of its foreign and defence policy. That is one of the central propositions of the report of the Commission “European defence: industrial and market questions Towards a Community policy in military equipment”, which was examined by the European Parliament in the plenary session that ends on 21 November. The report supports the progressive creation of a European armaments market, based on transparent procedures and measures of simplification. It also supports the Commission’s plan to collect data to map the situation of defence in the EU. The report therefore thinks it necessary to create favourable conditions for the development of a European industry of competitive and vital military equipment, and formulate a programme of research and development aimed at improving the Union’s defence capabilities. The member states are also urged to restructure the sector of military equipment industries and to support the principle of industrial and technological interdependence in this field, in such a way as to make more efficient use of public expenditure on defence and avoid duplication.
