The ECR Group supports today’s vote in the joint meeting of the Committee on Security and Defence and the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection to simplify transfers of defence-related products between Member States and make security and defence procurement more efficient.

For the ECR Group, this file is a key part of the Defence Omnibus Package. It reduces administrative barriers, helps defence companies cooperate more easily across borders, updates procurement rules and gives Member States more flexibility when carrying out joint procurement projects.

Reinis Pozņaks MEP, ECR Shadow Rapporteur in the Committee on Security and Defence, said:

“Europe’s defence readiness cannot be built on slow procedures and unnecessary bureaucracy. This agreement helps Member States and defence companies move faster, cooperate more easily across borders and strengthen the capabilities we urgently need.”

Stefano Cavedagna MEP, ECR Shadow Rapporteur in the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection, said:

“This is a balanced and pragmatic outcome. It reduces administrative barriers, supports small and medium-sized enterprises and innovative companies, and gives Member States more flexibility in defence procurement. We are particularly satisfied that unnecessary new powers for the European Commission were avoided and that no European preference criteria were imposed.”

The ECR Group considers the swift adoption of the Defence Omnibus Package a top priority. This file will now move towards final endorsement in plenary.