Tajani outlines H2020 defence investment
Antonio Tajani has outlined how the European Commission’s outlook for the continent’s defence industry, including Horizon 2020 funding.
Addressing the members of the European Parliament’s Security and Defence Subcommittee, the European Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship outlined a communication that will form the basis of the EU’s body proposals.
Tajani told MEPs: “The first priority is to ensure full and effective implementation of two directives on the transfer of defence products and contracting procedures in the security and defence sectors. The Commission will monitor the full implementation of the directives.”
Plans also include identifying the industry’s key raw materials, encouraging hybrid standards for applications between the civil and military sectors, the certification of defence products and assisting SMEs.
The Commissioner added that collaboration across the European sector was also vital: “We will assess how to increase co-operation with the European Defence Agency in the light of the important discussions on Horizon 2020. We’re thinking, for example, of promoting hybrid standards for products that have both civil and military applications and for which there is no alternative.”
The European Green Party has discouraged using Horizon 2020 funding for defence research projects.
