European Defence Agency

The European Defence Agency was established under a Joint Action of the Council of Ministers on 12 July, 2004, "to support the Member States and the Council in their effort to improve European defence capabilities in the field of crisis management and to sustain the European Security and Defence Policy as it stands now and develops in the future”.

Functions and tasks

The European Defence Agency, within the overall mission set out in the Joint Action, is ascribed four functions, covering:

• developing defence capabilities;
• promoting Defence Research and Technology (R&T);
• promoting armaments co-operation;
• creating a competitive European Defence Equipment Market and strengthening the European Defence, Technological and Industrial Base.

All these functions relate to improving Europe's defence performance, by promoting coherence. A more integrated approach to capability development will contribute to better-defined future requirements on which collaborations - in armaments or R&T or the operational domain - can be built. More collaboration will, in turn, provide opportunities for industrial restructuring and progress towards the continental-scale demand and market, which industry needs.

EDA Introductory Video 2008

On this basis, the Agency's tasks include:

• to work for a more comprehensive and systematic approach to defining and meeting the capability needs of the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP);
• to promote European defence-relevant R&T, as vital both to a healthy defence technological and industrial base and to defining and satisfying future capability requirements. This will involve pursuing collaborative use of national defence R&T funds, in the context of a European Defence R&T Strategy which identifies priorities;
• to promote European cooperation on defence equipment, both to contribute to defence capabilities and as a catalyst for further restructuring the European defence industry;
• to work, in close cooperation with the Commission, on steps towards an internationally competitive market for defence equipment in Europe.

The Agency's "comparative advantage" should be its ability to comprehend all these agendas, and relate them so as to realise their synergies. Its special position should allow it to develop uniquely cogent analyses and proposals across the range of its activities. 

Structure

The EDA is an Agency of the European Union. The EU High Representative, Javier Solana, is Head of the Agency and Chairman of the Steering Board, its decision-making body composed of Defence Ministers of the 26 participating Member States (all EU Member States, except Denmark) and the European Commission. In addition, the Steering Board meets regularly at sub-ministerial levels, such as National Armaments Directors, Capability Directors or R&T Directors.

The Steering Board acts under the Council’s Authority and within the framework of guidelines issued by the Council.

Way of working

The Agency faces outwards. Its main “shareholders” are the Member States participating in the Agency; key stakeholders include the Council and the Commission as well as third parties such as OCCAR (fr. Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en matière d'ARmement), LoI (Letter of Intent) and NATO. The Agency has a special relationship with Norway (through an “Administrative Arrangement”).

Early Results

The first major achievement was the approval by Ministers of a voluntary Code of Conduct on defence procurement in November 2005. This decision marked a turning point: it changed the establish practice of exempting defence procurement from cross-border competition under art. 296 of the EC treaties. On 1 July 2006 the Code of Conduct became operational. The subscribing Member States now publish their contract opportunities on the Agency’s website (the so-called Electronic Bulletin Board).

The Agency manages a portfolio of over 40 Research & Technology collaborations. The Defence Ministers acknowledged that they need to “spend more” and spend “more together” on Research and Technology. As a practical first step towards this goal, in November 2006, a ground-breaking Joint R&T Investment Programme has been approved, with the aim to develop new technologies helping to provide better protection for the European armed forces. 20 governments pledged a budget of more than € 55 Mio into it.

In October 2006 Ministers endorsed the Long Term Vision. It defines capability and capacity needs in the timeframe of 2020-2030. Thus, the LTV assists in steering Defence R&T and armament collaborations to provide the right capabilities in the longer term.

Work Programme for 2008

Follow the link to read the EDA Work Programme 2009.

EDA Management details