On Tuesday 17 June 2025, the European Commission proposed measures designed to accelerate defence investment and production in an effort to improve the European Union’s (EU) response to current security challenges.
The Commission has reported that the measures contained in its White Paper on European Defence Preparedness 2030 aim to help Member States and industry strengthen their defence capabilities and infrastructure to achieve the required levels of preparedness for, and thus deter, high-intensity conflict.
The Commission noted that these measures would reduce red tape, facilitate investment in defence capabilities and provide greater predictability for industry and will facilitate access to EU funding.
According to the Commission, the benefits within the proposal include:
⁃ the introduction of a fast-track authorisation regime for defence projects, reducing the existing timeframe to 60 days. It also proposes to establish single points of contact in Member States for the defence industry;
⁃ a reduction the administrative burden on applicants and participants under the European Defence Fund (EDF);
⁃ the facilitation of procurement by encouraging joint purchasing and raising contract thresholds, thereby accelerating cross-border transfers of defence products;
⁃ the clarification for the application of existing EU-wide rules, such as competition and environmental legislation;
⁃ ensuring that chemicals regulations meet defence needs;
⁃ improved access to finance by streamlining InvestEU eligibility criteria, providing guidance on sustainable defence investments, and clarifying the concept of prohibited weapons under sustainable finance.
The Commission remarked: “Together, these changes aim to improve Europe's ability to act quickly, coordinate more effectively, and ensure that its defence industry can deliver rapid results at scale.” It also noted that the initiative builds on the vision outlined in Commission’s White Paper on European Defence Readiness 2030, which identified regulatory simplification and harmonisation as key levers to strengthen Europe's defence preparedness.
