Level Playing Field

 Photoxpress

Based on the EDTIB Strategy and on the findings of a preparatory EDA-let study on Level Playing Field for European Defence Industries: the Role of Ownership and Public Aid Practices, the Ministers of Defence of the EDA participating Member States (pMS) and Norway, on 17 November 2009, agreed on a Political Declaration on a Level Playing Field for the European Defence Equipment Market tasking the Agency to conduct further investigations in issues that might have an impact on a Level Playing Field (LPF) including a thorough assessment of these areas and the development of proposals for mitigating actions.

LPF can be understood as a concept focussing on economic operators – more specifically European Defence companies – and their ability to participate in the Market. LPF therefore attempts to create favourable conditions and fair and equitable opportunities for industrial/commercial players throughout Europe, not leaving aside the global dimension. However, this is by no means to be understood as unconditional opening of the defence market or abandoning any defence specific regulatory or supportive measures but as striving towards the creation of more transparency, comprehensive harmonisation and fair competition.

So far these areas of interest have been identified in this respect (in alphabetical order):

  • Export Limitations
  • Export Support
  • Foreign Investments/Mergers & Acquisitions
  • Global Market Access
  • Harmonisation/Coordination of Regulations and Practices
  • Investments into the EDTIB and Burden Sharing (including R&D Funding)
  • Offsets
  • Public Ownership
  • Security of Supply
  • Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and Market Awareness
  • State Aid.
"We, the EDA Steering Board in Defence Ministers' formation (...) declare our commitment to an open and transparent European Defence Equipment Market and our determination to support the European Defence Agency’s work towards a Level Playing Field for Defence, and task the Agency to explore the issue in more detail...". Defence Ministers' Political Declaration on a Level Playing Field for the European Defence Equipment Market, EDA Steering Board, 17 November 2009.

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