Simplifying defence and sensitive security procurement

The purpose of the present contribution is to make certain suggestions for the improvement of the internal market of defence/security with an emphasis on procurement regulation. More importantly it aims at calling out few aspects of the current policy/regulatory approach which have proved less effective, occasionally counterproductive, and highlight some alternative options for further consideration.

We submit this contribution on behalf of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Defense and Aerospace Council, represented by its President, Keith Webster. We welcome the Commissions initiative to simplify defense and sensitive security procurement and its clear linkage to the European Defence Readiness 2030 objectives.

ESOP Associação de Empresas de Software Open Source Portuguesas (Business Open Source Portugal) is a non-profit trade association, established in 2007, representing providers of products and services and other stakeholders of the Portuguese Open Digital Ecosystem.

The Norwegian defence and security industries association (FSi) welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on the initiative to simplify the defence procurement legal framework (current Directive 2009/81/EC). The Norwegian defence industry is an integral component of the EDTIB, with production facilities in more than 10 EU member states and Norway.

The Hub de Defensa de Aragón is a strategic initiative of the Government of Aragon, through its various departments, the Instituto Aragonés de Fomento, the Instituto Tecnológico de Aragón y Aragón Exterior, the Ayuntamiento de Zaragoza, the Delegación del Gobierno de España en Aragón, the AERA, ALIA and Tecnara clusters, CEOE Aragón, CEPYME Aragón and Consejo Aragonés de Cámaras de Comercio, in collaboration with…

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Europes accelerated defence investment and expanding joint procurement frameworks make the simplification of Directive 2009/81/EC both urgent and strategic. Simplification, however, will only strengthen capability delivery and industrial resilience if accompanied by proportionate governance safeguards.

BSP welcomes the EUs initiative to simplify and enhance the EU defence and sensitive security procurement framework. In the current geopolitical context, including the war in Ukraine and increasing threats to security of supply, it is essential that any reform strengthens both efficiency and resilience.

The main problems of the current system are: Complexity of the rules – overlapping of different legal regimes, national exemptions from Article 346 TFEU (national security), leading to a lack of uniformity in the internal market. Lengthy procedures – complex formal requirements, multi-stage procedures that delay key defence projects.

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Vodafone welcomes the Commissions initiative to streamline defence and sensitive security procurement and to enable agile joint purchasing while strengthening the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB). Done right, simplification can reduce time to contract, open opportunities for innovative EU suppliers (including SMEs), and improve interoperability across borders.

FHI, federation of technology industries in The Netherlands is happy to contribute. See the attached file. We are a federation of +600 member companies in the field of technology in The Netherlands and Flanders. As such we are a board member of the Dutch federation: MKB Nederland.

ADB SAFEGATE welcomes the European Commissions intention to revise the EU Defence and Security Procurement Directive (Directive 2009/81/EC) . As President von der Leyen recognised in her Political Guidelines , public procurement is a powerful lever to support the development and deployment of strategic technologies and to strengthen Europes resilience in an increasingly challenging geopolitical environment.

Transparency International Bulgaria make this proposal in line with the goals of White Paper for European Defense Readiness 2030, which explicitly stresses the need for faster and more efficient procurement alongside a large, sustained investment surge under the ReArm Europe framework - aimed at rebuilding European defense.

The German Steel Association (Wirtschaftsvereinigung Stahl) welcomes the European Commissions initiative to reform defence and security procurement. A strong and resilient industrial base is a core prerequisite for defence capability and strategic autonomy; the steel industry is an indispensable pillar of this base.

The Man-Made Fibres (MMF) industry welcomes the initiative to simplify the Defence Procurement Directive. Strengthening Europes defence readiness requires procurement rules that ensure resilient and strategically autonomous supply chains. MMFs are processed into textiles that constitute strategic and irreplaceable components of European defence capability.

The European textile and apparel industry welcomes the initiative to simplify the Defence Procurement Directive. Strengthening Europes defence readiness requires procurement rules that secure resilient and autonomous supply chains for SMEs. Please find attached EURATEXs position paper in this call. Textiles are strategic enablers of Europes defence capabilities.

The Europe India Centre for Business and Industry (EICBI) welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on the European Unions consultation to Simplify Rules for Defence and Sensitive Security Procurement. EICBI is a platform dedicated to strengthening economic, trade, and investment linkages between Europe and India.

Axon is a global security and defence company delivering mission-critical technologies that enhance defence capabilities, operational effectiveness, and situational awareness. Its hard- and software solutions support defence forces, law enforcement, and critical infrastructure operators, with UAS and C-UAS systems deployed in several EU Member States and in Ukraine.

The Aerospace Industries Association of America (AIA) represents hundreds of companies across the U.S. aerospace and defense (A&D) industry, ranging from small suppliers to large original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) all of which play a vital role in the international economy and trade.

The scope of the Directive should be clarified as regards: — Acquisition of military equipment by non-armed forces (such as the Police); — The concept of military equipment. It should be possible to make standard use of a procedure allowing negotiation in a single phase with publicity; In a crisis situation, it should be possible to proceed to a direct award when the deadlines do not allow for the establishment of…

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This initiative follows up on the call made in the Joint White Paper for European Defence Readiness 2030 to review EU rules on procurement of defence equipment and services in 2026. Publishing the calls on a European free consultation portal, with the results of the assignments and the deadlines for doing so.

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On behalf of the Beryllium Science & Technology Association (BeST), representing the manufacturers, suppliers and users of beryllium metal, beryllium containing alloys and beryllium oxide ceramics in the EU market, please find below our comments on the public consultations on Simplifying EU rules for defence and sensitive security procurement.

(Full Statement Attached) The U.S. Departments of State and War welcome the opportunity to provide feedback on the 2026 revision of the EU Defense and Sensitive Security Procurement Directive - henceforth "the Directive." The United States fully supports European rearmament and a revitalization of the European defense industrial base.

IonQ welcomes the opportunity to respond to the European Commissions Call for Evidence for an Impact Assessment on Simplifying Defence and Sensitive Security Procurement. To maximise the impact of simplifying EU defence and sensitive procurement, the Commission should keep procurement open to trusted third-country vendors. A pluralistic strategy will enable access to the best global technology.

The Dutch defence and security industry consists predominantly of SMEs that are deeply integrated into European and international supply chains of major OEMs. For these companies, the rapid, simple and reliable cross-border movement of defence-related products within a well-integrated EU defence market is indispensable.

The Global Electronics Association (formerly IPC) welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the review of EU rules on procurement of defence equipment and services in 2026. Specifically, we wish to respond to the consultation request for a review of procurement rules to secure supply chains in an era of increasing geopolitical uncertainty.

The strategic context for European defence and security procurement has changed fundamentally since Directive 2009/81/EC was adopted. Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine, hybrid threats, supply-chain fragility and rapid advances in AI, cybersecurity, cloud and other digital technologies expose structural weaknesses in the current regime and create new capability needs.

I commend the proposed revision of the Defence Procurement Directive as a significant step toward simplifying and modernizing defence procurement in the EU. However, I would like to emphasize that the initiative could be further strengthened by integrating two complementary measures: An EU-Funded Research and Development (R&D) Program An EU Strategic Reserve for Weapons, Systems, Ammunition, and Material 1.

The European carbon and graphite industry calls for a defence procurement framework that ensures European strategic autonomy by: (1) Setting mandatory European content requirements (5070% for materials, 60% for components) and prioritizing ITAR-free supply chains for sensitive defence technologies.

The main factors complicating the process of awarding public contracts are mainly the deadlines, against the background of a significant increase in the volume of investment intentions of the Ministry of Defense and a significant volume of outdated and depreciated infrastructure that needs modernization.

Vewin, the Association of Dutch water companies, represents the collective interests of the public water utilities responsible for delivering safe and reliable drinking water across the Netherlands. Vewin welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on the call for evidence to simplify the Defence and sensitive security procurement Directive.

A European legislative framework for defence procurement should strengthen a safe and secure supply chain. And textiles are crucial in the defence value chain. Not only uniforms and all kind of protective clothing are part of this value chain, also other textile products used in aviation, ballistic, aerospace, composites, logistic, camouflage, are part of this value chain.

The present security situation in Europe requires a modernized European defence industry legal framework and procedures. The United States policy to decrease footprint in European defence further emphasizes this need. Both European and European nations industrial defence capabilities development and acquisition regulations, policies and processes should be brought up to date.

In general the procurement principals in Finland are working, there are no hidden factors as we are always following the given rules 100 %. But as the official programs are taking a lot of time, the procurement entities are not able to get the newest technologies in to operational use the fastest possible way. One other area of improvement would be the allowance of mistakes.

There would be a LOT to say about this initiative and what we need to fix with it, suffice it to say that in Finland the authorities are also waking up to see that the procedures and pace have to change - which has been evident to companies for a long time.

Palo Alto Networks currently plays a vital role in securing critical European assets and infrastructure. In our view, any policy of "European preference" must be carefully and narrowly applied to avoid negative, unintended consequences that could undermine the very security objectives they aim to achieve. Introducing a mandatory "European preference" across the board risks: 1.

We are a Finnish defence tech startup accelerator and VC company. As the security environment for EU has radically changed in the past 24 months, the individual nation states have reacted to the situation each on their own way, reflecting political guidance, status of their defence forces and existing defence alliances. The challenge is that each individual nation reacts on their own way.

We are a 100 % European textile company – defence, police, firefighter and protection. We stress the absolute need to create a legislative framework to promote the concept of defence textiles. ØWhereas this ensures a safe and secure supply chain (we have seen the crucial importance of this aspect during the coronavirus crisis) ØWhereas the failure to open up public procurement markets in other countries creates a…

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Our organisation represents film-makers, weavers and anoblisers, fabrics, cotton and natural fibre with members in Germany, France, Belgium, Poland, Portugal, Italy. We stress the absolute need to create a legislative framework to promote the concept of defence textiles.

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