I&M Directorate

 Photoxpress.com

Our Mission

Maintaining a strong Defence Technological and Industrial Base (DTIB) in Europe is a fundamental underpinning of the Common Security and Defence Policy of the European Union (EU). In this context the mission of Industry and Market (I&M) Directorate is to contribute to identifying and implementing any useful measures for strengthening the industrial and technological base of the defence, for improving the effectiveness of military expenditure and for adoption of effective, compatible procurement methods. In this effort, I&M Directorate works closely with participating Member States (pMS), the European Commission and the defence industry seeking to strike the right balance between industrial development and competitive market issues.

The European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB) Strategy agreed by the Ministers of Defence in May 2007 is the strategic framework of the I&M activities.

Objectives

Given the specificity of the defence sector which is fully associated with the concept of “essential security interests” – as it is recognized inter alia by Article 346 of the Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) – and the special characteristics of the defence related industry, the objectives of the I&M Directorate are in line with the “Intergovernmental approach” way of working of the EDA acting as a catalyst in the process of launching common policies and best practices in view of the Agency’s mission in the context of improving military capabilities.

The following are the I&M Objectives:

  • Contribute to the creation of a truly international European Defence Equipment Market (EDEM) by:
    • promoting intergovernmental agreements to bring more transparency and cross-border competition into the pMS procurement processes,
    • launching initiatives and best practices on associated areas to foster cooperation and more efficient defence procurement in Europe. 
  • Contribute to strengthening the EDTIB by:
    • Identifying key industrial capabilities that the EU needs to preserve or develop in order to fulfil the military capability needs which provide for appropriate national sovereignty and EU autonomy,
    • Supporting the involvement of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and non-traditional suppliers in the EDTIB.

continue

“We can debate just how much of that technology we should generate in Europe, for reasons of autonomy, and how far we can rely on the global market. But we clearly need much of it under our own hands. And we need a globally competitive European defence industry." Javier Solana, Head of EDA, February 2006.

 
© 2005-2012 European Defence Agency Information on this site is subject to legal notices.