Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

One of the Ireland’s priorities in the defence arena during our Presidency of the Council of the European Union is the development of capabilities in support of the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy, CSDP, through enhanced co-operation between the European Defence Agency and the European Commission in the field of research and innovation in the security sector. The European Commission has a role via its regulatory function and wants to reinforce competitiveness in the defence market and help member states get better value for money. Given the cuts in defence budgets throughout Europe, duplication of capability development is no longer an option. Therefore, collaboration on equipment programmes between the European Defence Agency and the Commission and other relevant agencies, is being progressed.

To this end, in 2011, the Commission task force on defence industries and markets was established. The aim of the task force is to explore different policy options available to the Commission to strengthen the European defence equipment market and further enhance the competitiveness of the defence industry. The task force operates in full collaboration with the European Defence Agency and the European external action service. The task force has identified three priority areas for advancement, namely, industrial policy, research and innovation, and the Internal Market. Working with the European Commission, the aim is to develop research and innovation synergies in areas of dual use technology such as space, chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and cyber defence.

See this speech in context