Caterina Tani Is the EU Getting Serious on Defence? 2021 was a challenging, important and transitional year. A year beginning with a pandemic and ending with winds of war blowing from the East. During the year, global health improvement was counterbalanced by geopolitical deterioration in Europe. As a result, not only did the EU put unprecedented efforts into fighting the pandemic, but it also started acknowledging the (potential) relevance of EU Defence – as, indeed, emerges from the European Defence Agency’s report on its achievements in 2021. Given 2020’s not-so-rosy forecasts about the future of the defence sector, this growing interest was everything but expected. Despite a difficult situation, in 2021, EDA continued to support Member States to enhance the whole range of defence capabilities, while keeping pace with global trends. In 2021, the agency was involved in several relevant initiatives, such as preparation of the Strategic Compass, released in March, and implementation of the European Defence Fund (EDF): a tool broadly considered to be a game-changer for the very nature of the European project - for higher, supranational involvement in a historically intergovernmental field. Looking at the numbers, at the end of 2021 EDA managed €137 million in joint capability and research projects, (€123 inm 2020, €113 in 2019) – a 21% increase in two years. Similarly, state contributions to projects were €420million, (€370 and €313 respectively) – a 34% increase. Such growth is remarkable, even though probably influenced by the launch of EDF and its precursors, the European Defence Industrial Development Programme (EDIDP) and the Preparatory Action on Defence Research (PADR). Generally speaking, the augmented focus on EU defence initiatives resulted from a shift in member states’ political will. EDA’s role and work were discussed at important meetings at Council level in May and November, testifying to increased confidence in the Agency’s work – something not always shared by all member states. In November, EDA was tasked with negotiating an Administrative Arrangement with the US DoD, as well as becoming a driving force for innovation – the new European obsession - and so-called ‘emerging and disruptive technologies’ (EDTs): AI, quantum technology, big data, robotics, autonomous systems, advanced materials, blockchain, hypersonic weapon systems and biotechnologies applied to human enhancement. Consequently, EDA is currently working to create a Defence Innovation Hub, pool member states’ innovation ‘skills’ and promote industrial synergies. In parallel, EDA focused considerable effort on already established tools. It enriched the 11 joint capability priorities of the CDP, adding additional sub-areas, such as space situational awareness and enhanced logistic and medical support capabilities. These relate to the growing importance of an increasingly crowded space, and improvements in health management linked to the pandemic, respectively. On the joint planning side, EDA made progress implementing its 2020 Coordinated Annual Review on Defence (CARD), whose six focus areas provide member states with a picture of existing European defence capabilities and ideas for cooperation opportunities. The Agency made steps forward on some of the focus areas: on Anti-Access/ Area-Denial (A2/AD), by setting-up a working group under the EDA Project Team Air Superiority to support Member States’ efforts to develop joint projects; on Military mobility, by developing two technical arrangements (for surface and air domains) to optimise cross-border movement permission procedures;. In Ground combat capabilities, the Agency established a dedicated Project Team and accomplished joint procurement of Carl-Gustaf anti-tank munitions for five member states; at sea, the Agency continued to support member states involved in the European Patrol Corvette – a critical PESCO project; and for Defence in Space, in January 2021, EDA signed a Memorandum of Intent with the European Space Agency (ESA) on Next-Generation Secure Satellite Communications (satcom) to foster cooperation between the two bodies. The Agency also launched a new CARD cycle, which should be ready by 2022. When it comes to PESCO, the main symbol of EU cooperation, 14 new projects were approved in November, bringing the total to 60 – a clear sign of heightened political attention to areas which have been very national for a long time. The new projects brought some change – primarily in air capabilities and systems, rather than the training, cyber, hybrid and enabling capability domains, as in the past. Also, the approach now is more inclusive than before, when industrial participation came mainly from bigger countries. Other relevant initiatives see EDA taking on project management for two important Cyber Defence and Communication & Information Services (CIS) projects funded by EDIDP. Noteworthy at the operational level are the multinational Counter-IED Exercise ‘Bison Counter21;’ the ‘Hot Blade 2021’ helicopter training exercise and the 15th multinational helicopter exercise held under EDA’s Helicopter Exercise Programme (HEP) in Portugal. EDA continued collaborating with OCCAR, for instance, on the Multinational MultiRole Tanker transport fleet, the European MALE RPAS programme, the European Secure Software Defined Radio (ESSOR), standardisation, REACH and military airworthiness. The 2021 EDA Report was published simultaneously with the Strategic Compass, the “way forward document” for EU Defence. While the two texts were being drafted, Putin’s ‘special operation’ erupted, resulting in a sharp overnight increase in defence budgets - as the Compass foresees - after years of reluctance. When it comes to European defence, these crises provide the extra fuel needed for acceleration. It is no longer only advisable, but fundamental, and perhaps finally shared, that European Defence (and EDA too), continue and even accelerate on their path. Which is, inevitablt, strewn with obstacles and challenges. Based in Brussels, where she is Mönch Group’s NATO & EU Affairs Correspondent, Caterina Tani regularly takes on complex, multi-faceted issues, dissects and explains them. Letter from Brussels MT 3/2022 · 61
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