Main categories of expert groups:
- Capability development: Capability Planners Groups and Capability Expert Groups
- Research and Technology: Capability Technology Groups
- Additional working groups focused on relevant EU civilian and defence policies
Additionally, ad hoc working groups can be formed for any given subject. Specific thematic fora – such as the EDA Single European Sky Military Aviation Board (ESMAB) or EDA’s Military Airworthiness Authority (MAWA) Forum – or specific advisory fora and task forces can be set up following a request of participating Member States.
Capability development
Capability Planners Groups (CPGs)
The Capability Planers Groups bring together capability planners from the Member States to align national capability development and armament plans. These Groups help identify common opportunities for collaboration to enhance capabilities, improve cost effectiveness, and reduce fragmentation.
The CPGs define the short-, medium- and long-term target capabilities and operational impacts in implementation of the EU Capability Development Priorities.
CPGs are chaired by Member States. EDA provides the administrative and secretariat support, as well as coordination with other working bodies and work strands of the Agency. The number of CPGs is limited to one per domain of operations. Each CPG contains one or more Capability Expert Groups.
Capability Expert Groups (CEGs)
Capability Expert Groups are communities of experts in a specific domain. They are responsible for the implementation of one or more EU Capability Development Priorities and the respective Priority Implementation Roadmaps. The CEGs support Member States in defining activities to achieve the capability and operational goals set by the CPGs.
The CEGs initiate and prepare collaborative capability development, armament projects and programmes. Starting with a conceptual thinking, the CEGs define capability development concepts, look for solutions to military problems, and develop commonly agreed requirements and business cases.
Where necessary, the CEGs establish temporary working groups composed of interested Member States.
For some niche areas, Member States establish standing working groups, such as the EU Community of Diving Experts (EU CODE), and the Working Group on Safety and Regulations for Unmanned Maritime Systems (SARUMS).
Research and technology
Capability Technology Groups (CapTechs)
Capability Technology Groups are Research & Technology (R&T) working groups dedicated to a particular technology area. They aim to generate collaborative R&T projects within a specific technology area, and support Member States with necessary expertise.
As of 2026, 15 CapTechs are implemented and operational.
CapTechs are chaired by a member of EDA staff acting as moderator, and involve experts from Member States, industry (including small and medium sized enterprises) and academia.
The main objective of a CapTech is to gather advice from Member States’ experts to identify technology gaps and common areas for cooperation. Non-governmental experts from industry and academia contribute with ideas and the knowledge of emerging technology trends.
EU civilian and defence policies
DA acts as the military voice and interface for a broad selection of EU policies which have an impact on the military and Ministries of Defence. The Agency ensures that the interests of the defence community are conveyed to all EU bodies to maximise potential synergies and make the best use of existing instruments. At the same time, EDA supports the Member States in the implementation of the relevant EU policies in the defence domain.
In this regard, EDA works with the Member States representatives in several groups:
The EDA REACH Task Force coordinates experts from 9 Member States and Norway to monitor developments in the EU chemicals regulatory framework and define relevant mitigation actions (see EDA REACH Activities).
The EDA PFAS Working Groups are additional forums within the chemicals regulatory domain, focusing specifically on military applications affected by upcoming regulatory restrictions of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances - PFAS (e.g., firefighting foams, ammunition, fluorinated gases, and textiles).
The Defence Acquisition Experts’ Network (DAEN) provides a forum to exchange on experiences, challenges and best practices on defence procurement, particularly on the aspects of cooperative defence procurement.
The Security of Supply (SoS) Network provides a forum for Member States to develop policy ideas on how to address common security of supply challenges and exchange best practices from the national level. The SoS Portal provides publicly available information related to Member States’ security of supply policies and contact points.
The European Defence Standardisation Reference System Expert Groups (EDSTAR EGs), perform standardisation activities under the EDSTAR Joint Maintenance Group (EDSTAR JMG). The Groups select best-practice standards from NATO Standardisation Agreements (STANAGs), EU-developed civilian standards, international standards or any other standards recognised by the Union. These selected standards are then published in the European Defence Standards Reference System (EDSTAR) – a database of best-practice standards in support of European security and defence. EDSTAR EGs build expertise in technical domains, which are deemed critical for defence cooperation in EU projects and programmes, support of joint procurement and enhancing interoperability.
The Single European Sky Miliary Aviation Board (ESMAB) proactively coordinates with EU Member States and international organisations to mitigate any adverse impact on national and collective defence capabilities, potentially emerging from the Single European Sky (SES) initiative. Under the guidance of the Board, EDA coordinates six expert communities. EDA shares concerns and opportunities to six expert communities, coordinates a collective response and way forward, ensuring that the military’s needs are considered.