Written answers

Tuesday, 13 December 2016

Department of Defence

European Defence Capabilities

Photo of Paul MurphyPaul Murphy (Dublin South West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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48. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his views on the European Commission's proposals for a common EU military research and development fund and common military procurement fund; his further views on the use of EU institutions for military purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39831/16]

Photo of Paul KehoePaul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The College of Commissioners adopted the European Defence Action Plan on 30 November last. I should point out at the outset that this is simply a proposal from the Commission. It has not been discussed or agreed by the member States or the European Parliament. As such, it has yet to go through the wide ranging and extensive EU procedures before any part of it becomes a reality. The aim of the Plan is to explore how EU policies and instruments can ensure that the EU’s industrial and skills base will be able to deliver required defence capabilities in view of current and future security challenges. As part of this Plan, the Commission has proposed the creation of a European Defence Fund. There are also proposals in the Plan to increase transparency in relation to Defence procurement.

The purpose of the Defence Fund is to promote research and innovation and contribute to the strengthening of the European defence technological and industrial base, and to further stimulate the development of key defence capabilities. The Commission has proposed that the fund would have research and capability windows.

Under the research window, it is proposed that €90 million in funding will be made available for collaborative defence research projects over the period 2017-2020 in what is known as the “Preparatory Action”. The 2017 allocation of €25 million has already been approved. The Commission also propose that post 2020, a European Defence Research Programme will be established which will require funding of €500m per annum. It should be noted that this has yet to be negotiated as part of the post 2020 Multiannual Financial Framework.

Under the capability window, the Commission has proposed the establishment of a fund which would facilitate Member States in purchasing capability platforms together through the pooling of national contributions and where possible supported by the EU Budget. The Commission estimate that this fund would be in the region of €5 billion per year. Any capabilities developed as a result of this plan would continue to be owned by the relevant Member State. It is important to highlight that this would depend on Member States agreeing to initiate joint projects which they would co-fund from national resources.

It should be noted that the proposals contained in the Plan, in particular in relation to the creation of European Defence Fund, have yet to be defined in full and negotiated with Member States.

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