Today, the Committees on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) and Foreign Affairs (AFET) jointly adopted the European Defence Industry Reinforcement through Common Procurement Act (EDIRPA), co-authored by ECR MEP Prof Zdzisław Krasnodębski.
“EDIRPA is a unique and short-term instrument to help Member States efficiently fill gaps in military stocks and will be a valuable contribution to the preparation of the European Defence Investment Programme,” said Prof Krasnodębski after the vote.
EDIRPA will not directly increase the amount of money Member States can spend on common procurement. Instead, the money will be used to cover financing not linked to the cost of weapons, such as the legal, technical or logistical costs that always precede the actual joint purchase of defence equipment. Furthermore, the money will not go directly to the defence industry, but to Member States wishing to establish cooperation in this field.
The ECR Group believes that EDIRPA is an important tool to replenish the depleted stockpiles of defence equipment in Member States that have helped Ukraine by providing it with the much-needed tools to withstand Russia’s war of aggression, to stimulate joint procurement, and to support the defence sector. The ECR Group has also introduced measures to enable Ukraine and Moldova to buy equipment at a better price.
“In the current geopolitical context, it is crucial to strengthen Member States’ defence capabilities as soon as possible. To this end, we should use all available instruments, including – as far as possible – EU funds,” stressed Professor Krasnodębski.
“The current situation brings with it the need for Central and Eastern Europe to get rid of obsolete Soviet-era equipment. We need to replace the outdated weapons with modern ones from the West. EDIRPA could also help do this,” he added.
The report was adopted by 87 votes in favour, with 8 against and 25 abstentions.
“I am glad that, despite differences of opinion, representatives of different political groups in the European Parliament share a common assessment of the situation we find ourselves in today, and that we have managed to reach a quick agreement on such a pressing issue,” Prof Krasnodębski said.
Speaking at the press conference after the vote, Krasnodębski concluded he was “very optimistic about the trilogue with the Council and the Commission”.
