An agreement has been signed between the European Commission and the European Defence Agency, which sees the Commission entrusting the EDA with the management of the Preparatory Action on Defence Research (PADR).
Lowri Evans, Director-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, and the Chief Executive of the European Defence Agency (EDA), Jorge Domecq, signed the Delegation Agreement at a meeting attended by Commissioner Elżbieta Bieńkowska and Deputy Director General Pierre Delsaux.
The PADR is the first substantial EU funded action for defence research. Its aim is to demonstrate the added value of EU-funded research in the defence sector, laying the foundations for a fully-fledged EU defence R&D programme in the Multi-annual Financial Framework beginning in 2021.
It is a central element of the ‘Research Window’ of the European Defence Fund proposed by the Commission last November.
For member states who would struggle with costs, the PADR will focus on priorities devised in the Capability Development Plan (CDP), it will also create new incentives for cooperation both among governments and industry.
At the signing ceremony, Commissioner Elżbieta Bieńkowska stated: “The Commission is ready to play its role to the full and to even put EU funds and legal frameworks to support defence research and defence capabilities. This is potentially a game changer. However, to achieve this we need the expertise of the EDA. Together we can make a real difference. This partnership will continue to be important as we build the Defence Fund with the implementation of the European Defence Industrial Development Programme”.
EDA Chief Executive Jorge Domecq thanked the Commission for making the Delegation Agreement possible and said the EDA was looking forward to a good and fruitful implementation. He stated: “Our work in carrying forward the Preparatory Action will be in line with EDA’s role as central operator for EU funded defence related activities as well as the preferred cooperation forum and management support structure at EU level for participating Member States to engage in technology and capability development activities, highlighted at EDA’s last Ministerial Steering Board. I am proud we have successfully achieved this agreement which lays the basis for a sound and fruitful cooperation between the Commission and EDA for the years to come. It is a balanced Delegation Agreement in which the Commission and EDA will be genuine partners. The Preparatory Action on Defence Research will be the test bed for the coming European Defence Research Programme”.
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