The Council of the European Union is preparing negotiations for a 115 million euro program aimed at rapid innovation in defense.

Representatives of the member states approved the Council's mandate for negotiations with the European Parliament regarding AGILE, a 115 million euro program aimed at rapid innovation in the defense sector. The program is expected to support SMEs, start-ups, and scale-ups that develop and test emerging and disruptive defense products, including civilian technologies adapted for military use.

The Council of the European Union is ready to start negotiations with the European Parliament for the creation of AGILE, a 115 million euro program aimed at rapid innovation in the European defense industry.

The negotiation mandate was approved by representatives of the member states in Coreper, and the Council presidency will be able to enter into interinstitutional discussions once the European Parliament finalizes its position.

In short

Coreper approved the Council's mandate for negotiations with the European Parliament regarding the AGILE program.

The program has a proposed budget of 115 million euros.

AGILE is aimed at SMEs, start-ups, and scale-ups active in defense innovation.

The support will focus on the development and testing of emerging and disruptive defense products, including the adaptation of civilian technologies for military applications.

The program is expected to become operational from the beginning of 2027.

AGILE is designed as a faster and more flexible tool than traditional industrial funding mechanisms in the defense sector. The program aims to reduce the gap between technological development and the actual use of products by armed forces.

The Council presents the program as a complement to existing EU tools for the defense industry. Financial support is expected to be focused on small and medium-sized enterprises, start-ups, and scale-ups, categories that can develop rapid, adaptable, and less costly solutions, but which often face difficulties in accessing the defense market.

The program will specifically support emerging and disruptive technologies. These may include products developed directly for defense, as well as civilian technologies that can be adapted for military use. Such an approach is important in a sector where drones, autonomous systems, sensors, artificial intelligence, secure communications, and software solutions can rapidly change the operational balance.

The Council maintains the main elements of the Commission's proposal, including the rapid pace of funding. The proposal provides for a grant awarding time of four months, and the funded technologies should reach the defense forces within a period of one to three years.

Vasilis Palmas, the Minister of Defense of Cyprus, stated that Russia's war against Ukraine and conflicts in the EU's southern neighborhood have shown that rapid technological innovation can be decisive on the battlefield. He asserted that Europe must support companies capable of delivering smart, affordable, and adaptable solutions for armed forces.

"AGILE will make this possible and will strengthen Europe's preparedness in the defense sector," Palmas said.

The Council's mandate also introduces a greater role for member states in the implementation phase. To ensure the involvement of national capitals, the Council has created several opportunities for member states to participate in the implementation of the program through the comitology procedure.

This change is politically significant, as European funding for defense is in an area where member states retain important competencies. Their involvement in implementation can facilitate the acceptance of the program and coordination with national defense priorities.

The next step is negotiation with the European Parliament. Once the Parliament adopts its position, the Council and MEPs will seek to reach an agreement on the final text. The program is expected to become operational at the beginning of 2027.

AGILE comes at a time when the European Union is trying to accelerate investments in defense, reduce industrial dependencies, and shorten the time between research, testing, and fielding technologies. The war in Ukraine has shown that military advantage increasingly depends on the ability to rapidly adapt commercial technologies, produce new solutions at scale, and integrate them into operations in a short time.

https://2eu.brussels/ro/stiri/consiliul-uniunii-europene-pregateste-negocierile-pentru-un-program-de-115-milioane-de-euro-destinat-inovarii-rapide-in-aparare