FASTER PERMITS, EASIER PROCUREMENT: HOW THE EU IS BOOSTING ARMS PURCHASES

The European Union continues its push for member states to increase arms purchases and enhance their defense capabilities. The Commission has unveiled its fifth Omnibus package of simplifications, a set of measures promised by President Ursula von der Leyen to streamline European regulations. This particular package is dedicated to the defense industry, aiming to accelerate military production within EU countries.

The so-called Defence Readiness Omnibus, which now awaits approval from the European Parliament and Council, seeks to strengthen the EU's industrial capacity in anticipation of potential high-intensity conflicts. It does this by reducing bureaucracy and facilitating access to European funding.

Europe Rearms: Von der Leyen's €800 Billion Plan

This initiative is an integral part of the strategy outlined in the European Defence Readiness White Paper 2030 and responds to the European Council's request in March for urgent measures to support the defense industry. The stated goal: to make Europe "more responsive" to current security threats.

"With the Defence Readiness Omnibus, we are sending a clear political signal: Europe is serious about defense and credible preparedness. We are cutting red tape to help Member States and industry act faster, invest smarter, and strengthen our collective deterrence," stated Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Technological Sovereignty, Security, and Democracy.

According to Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius, "the only way to ensure peace in Europe is to ensure we are credibly and swiftly ready to defend ourselves." With this package, Brussels would be advancing "ambitious proposals to cut red tape and facilitate the €800 billion defense investments that Member States urgently need to undertake to ensure European defense readiness by 2030."

Key New Measures

Among the main innovations, the proposal introduces a fast-track authorization procedure for defense projects, setting a maximum limit of 60 days to obtain necessary permits, replacing the current multi-year timelines. Each member state will also be required to establish a single point of contact to assist businesses in the sector.

The package also includes simplifications for participation in the European Defence Fund (EDF), which currently has a €6 billion allocation for joint projects among EU states for the research and development of military equipment and weapons. This will feature leaner rules for beneficiaries and greater openness to Ukrainian participation. Furthermore, the possibility of joint procurement among bloc countries is incentivized, with increased contract thresholds and simplified cross-border transfers of military products.

To support investments, the Commission also intends to facilitate access to InvestEU funds, providing new guidelines to consider certain defense projects "sustainable," while clarifying that prohibited weapons will continue to be excluded from funding.