EUROPEAN ARMAMENTS CO-OPERATION STRATEGY
Brussels, 15 October 2008
INTRODUCTION
1. The continual pressure on defence budgets, the rising costs of armaments and the decrease in the
numbers of equipment produced accentuates the need to find more efficient ways of providing
capability to our Forces. In the context of this strategy this means achieving more effective
European armaments co-operation in support of the European Security Defence Policy (ESDP); to
reach full operational capability quicker and more cost-effectively than has been done before. The
growing use of new technologies, which are increasingly being adapted from civil technologies
(dual-use), joint off-the-shelf purchase and co-operation in-service, has increased the opportunities
for co-operation.
2. Governments’ draw security policy, military, economical, technology and industrial benefits from
participating in co-operative Armaments programmes. For example to meet a capability
requirement and sustain it thereafter at a more affordable price, to improve interoperability of
forces, to increase potential equipment sales, to strengthen the European Defence Technology and
Industrial Base (EDTIB) and to foster strategic multinational understanding.
3. The pMS’ have developed sophisticated methods to identify their capability needs. They take
account of their membership of the EU and other organisations and from these derive their political
and military ambitions. One of the natural sources for identifying capability needs is through the
EDA’s Capability Development Plan (CDP), although it is recognised that not all needs will be
fulfilled through co-operative programmes. A European policy approach to armaments is needed
that links the future European capabilities needs with the future EDTIB and investment therein.
VISION
To promote and enhance more effective European armaments co-operation in support of the
ESDP.
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STRATEGY
4. If the vision is to be met and Europe is to have a significant role globally, we