On 2 October 2014, EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Štefan Füle visited the European Defence Agency. He exchanged views with EDA Chief Executive Claude-France Arnould on Remotely Piloted Air Systems (RPAS) as well as EDA support to the defence industry in Central and Eastern Europe.
Particular attention has been paid to EDA activities in the field of SMEs, such as facilitated access to EU funds and information about cross-border opportunities. In this respect, Commissioner Füle appreciated the important share of EDA in consolidation of Central and Eastern Europe, namely with regard to the integration into the European Defence and Security System, including the full opening of the Single Market potential to the Central and Eastern European defence industry. As a good example, Commissioner Füle particularly welcomed EDA participation in the International Fair of Defence and Security Technology (IDET) in May 2015 as an important contribution to the dialogue with Central and Eastern Europe.
Speaking about the future, Commissioner Füle and Claude-France Arnould both emphasized the need to maintain a close dialogue between EDA and the new European Commission as well as the importance for EDA to play its part in the future EU external policy.