European Defence Matters

European Defence Matters

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Cover Story

Playing the CARD right

To solve a problem efficiently, good practice calls first for a thorough and honest analysis of what is wrong only then to be followed by tailored corrective action. The EU’s endeavour to overcome the fragmentation of its defence landscape and move towards a more homogeneous, collaborative, efficient and interoperable Europe of defence, follows the same two-tier approach.

The first Coordinated Annual Review on Defence (CARD), just endorsed by Defence Ministers, is a crucial piece of work as it offers both elements of the above-described remedy: a plain description of the shortcomings of purely national defence planning and capability development done in isolation; and plenty of concrete recommendations on how to do things better in the future, together. Now, it’s up to Member States to make the best of them.

In the field

Circular Economy in Defence

As concern for climate change grows, so do efforts to mitigate it, with the EU having led the way. At the forefront of its initiatives is the European Commission’s Green Deal, unveiled in December 2019. A central part of it is the “Circular Economy Action Plan”, which aims to boost the recycling of resources, lower waste levels and, crucially, to reduce Europe’s dependence on imported strategic materials and components.  


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Innovation corner

EDA DEFENCE INNOVATION PRIZE 2020

“Too close to call” was the jury’s verdict after assessing the many excellent proposals received from contenders from across Europe for EDA’s Defence Innovation Prize 2020. Hence, the announcement of two winners for this year’s contest which rewards the most innovative ideas, technologies and solutions for the countering of swarms of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), in particular to protect land facilities and platforms.


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