Changes from report parliamentary committee draft to plenary report

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Europe is entering a decisive phase in restoring its deterrence and defence capabilities. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, combined with the United States’ growing focus on the Indo-Pacific, leaves no room for delay. Strengthening Europe’s deterrence requires action that is efficient, effective, and collaborative.

Both the Draghi and Letta Reports highlight the absence of a single market for defence goods as a key obstacle. While the Commission has proposed measures to stimulate joint procurement among EU Member States, progress has been limited the improvement of cross-border industrial cooperation. The Defence Omnibus Package includes some initial steps in these regards, which require further action. Without deeper reforms, current inefficiencies will persist—leading, for example, to defence equipment prices that are roughly 30 % higher than they would be under full EU-wide cooperation.

Besides economic advantages, building a genuine single market for defence would also improve interoperability among European armed forces, which today struggle with excessive diversity in equipment. Through such industrial policy measures, the EU can significantly reinforce Europe’s deterrence capabilities, which will continue to be coordinated and structured by NATO.