The European Defence Fund (EDF), launched in 2021, has become a central instrument in promoting joint defence research and capability development, defence innovation and cross-border industrial cooperation. Over 160 collaborative projects have been launched within the framework of the EDF, in which over 1 300 entities across 26 Member States (all except Malta) as well as Norway participate. The June 2025 interim evaluation confirms that the Fund has helped reduce duplication, enhanced SME participation, and stimulated pan-European cooperation, but warns that, without procedural simplification, stable co-financing and closer integration with national planning, its long-term potential risks being undercut. The Commission has also called for a substantial EDF funding increase in the 2028-2034 multiannual financial framework. The European Parliament underscores the EDF's vital contribution to capability development, innovation and technological sovereignty. It consistently calls for increased funding, stronger parliamentary oversight and closer alignment with instruments such as permanent structured cooperation (PESCO) and the coordinated annual review on defence (CARD). Parliament stresses the need for faster, more flexible procedures and insists that EDF-supported projects must reflect jointly defined military priorities to deliver real strategic impact. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP Read more