The European Commission is preparing to present, on 1 July, a communication entitled “Defence Single Market: EU Technological Base Fit for Future”, with the aim of laying the foundations for a genuine single defence market and removing obstacles that continue to fragment the sector across the different Member States, limiting Europe’s ability to respond to current international security challenges.

The initiative comes against a backdrop of worsening geopolitical tensions, the prolonged war in Ukraine and growing concern among European countries about strengthening their military capabilities. In recent years, Member States have significantly increased investment in defence, but much of this effort continues to be carried out in a fragmented and poorly coordinated manner. For Brussels, this fragmentation results in higher costs, duplication of capabilities, reduced industrial efficiency and excessive dependence on external suppliers.

Through the communication “Defence Single Market: EU Technological Base Fit for Future”, the Commission aims to create the conditions for greater integration of the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB), promoting cooperation between companies, research centres and national governments. The objective is to build a more robust industrial ecosystem, capable of developing and producing advanced defence systems on European territory, reducing strategic vulnerabilities and strengthening the Union’s technological and military autonomy.

Among the priorities of the future strategy is the removal of regulatory barriers that hamper the movement of defence equipment, components and technologies between Member States. At present, companies face different national certification, licensing and public procurement regimes, which limits the creation of genuinely European production chains. The Commission considers that harmonising these rules will be essential to stimulate competition, increase efficiency and facilitate companies’ participation in cross-border projects.

Another pillar of the initiative will be the strengthening of technological innovation. Brussels intends to accelerate the development of critical technologies for the defence of the future, including artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, advanced computing, cybersecurity, space technologies and new secure communication solutions. The focus is on bringing the defence sector closer to the European innovation ecosystem, encouraging the participation of small and medium-sized enterprises, technology start-ups and research centres in military development programmes.

The European Parliament has supported the creation of a genuine single defence market, arguing that industrial integration is an essential condition for strengthening the security of the Member States. MEPs warn that the fragmentation of the sector continues to prevent the Union’s economic and technological potential from being fully harnessed, undermining the competitiveness of European companies in relation to major international groups.

The communication also forms part of a broader set of initiatives launched by Brussels to strengthen European defence policy. These include the European Defence Fund, joint military equipment procurement programmes, the European Defence Industry Reinforcement Plan and the Union’s preparedness strategy for security challenges up to 2030. Together, these measures reflect a paradigm shift in European policy, marked by greater concern with strategic autonomy, industrial capacity and operational readiness.