Commission proposes simplification to speed up defence investments in the EU

Today, the European Commission proposes measures to accelerate defence investments and production, enabling the EU to better respond to current security challenges, as outlined in the White Paper for European Defence-Readiness 2030.

The measures, detailed in a Defence Readiness Omnibus, aim to assist Member States and industry in scaling up defence capabilities and infrastructure to meet the readiness levels necessary to deter high-intensity conflict. These measures reduce bureaucracy, facilitate investments in defence capabilities, and provide greater predictability to industry. They also simplify access to EU funding. To this end, the Omnibus will:

Introduce a fast-track permitting regime for defence projects: across the EU, the permitting process can take several years. The proposal reduces this timeframe to 60 days and suggests establishing Single Points of Contact in Member States for the defence industry.
Reduce the administrative burden in the European Defence Fund (EDF) for applicants and participants. It will also facilitate increased participation of Ukrainian entities in the European Defence Fund.
Ease procurement by encouraging joint purchases and increasing contract thresholds, thereby speeding up cross-border transfers of defence products.
Clarify the application of existing EU-wide rules such as competition or environmental legislation.
Ensure that chemical regulations accommodate defence needs.
Improve access to finance by streamlining InvestEU eligibility criteria, providing guidance on sustainable investments in defence, and clarifying the definition of prohibited weapons under the Sustainable Finance Framework.

Together, these changes aim to enhance Europe’s ability to act swiftly, coordinate effectively, and ensure that its defence industry can deliver at speed and scale.

Next Steps

The legislative proposals are subject to negotiations in the European Parliament and in the Council, under the ordinary legislative procedure.

Background

The initiative builds on the vision set out in the White Paper for European Defence-Readiness 2030, which identified regulatory simplification and harmonisation as essential levers for boosting Europe’s defence preparedness.

The proposal complements the targeted amendments presented in April 2025 to existing EU funding programmes to support faster, more flexible, and coordinated investments in Europe’s defence technological and industrial base (EDTIB).

The proposal also incorporates feedback from a public consultation launched on March 25, 2025, which gathered input from Member States, defence industrial players, SMEs, and other stakeholders across the EU. It also includes input from President Von der Leyen’s Strategic Dialogue with the European Defence Industry on May 12 and Implementation Dialogue with stakeholders chaired by Commissioner Kubilius on May 19, 2025.

The initiative also responds to the European Council’s call on March 6, 2025, for the Commission to prioritise a defence-specific simplification omnibus, acknowledging the need to support Europe’s defence industry in meeting rapidly evolving security challenges.