Antonio Eugenio’s Post

🛡️ Is it time for a European Defence Compact? Read the First glance by Roel Beetsma, Marco Buti and Francesco Nicoli on how a European Defence Compact between willing member states may represent the most practical means to integrate defence policy at the EU level. Available here: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eYn8ZZf4

https://lnkd.in/dWcAty5k Sixth Plenary Session: Defence Challenges in a Complex World The International Institute for Strategic Studies 8 Dec 2024 #IISSMD24 Major wars and the development and dissemination of new technology have prompted renewed interest in defence modernisation and procurement.   This plenary examined how armed forces are defining their new priorities and preparing to face an increasingly complex array of threats. 

Helsinki Security Forum 2024 opened with an engaging discussion “Towards a Total Defence of Europe.” The panel focused on how the growing complexities of societal security call for a renewed approach to total defence – one that goes beyond military concerns and engages all sectors of society. Our distinguished speakers addressed the importance of a whole-of-society approach to national defence, emphasising that preparedness must extend across every sector, including organisations, NGOs, and civilians. Moderated by Charly Salonius-Pasternak Finnish Institute of International Affairs - FIIA the panel featured: Janne Jaakkola, Chief of Defence of Puolustusvoimat - Försvarsmakten - Finnish Defence Forces Marta Kepe, Senior Defence Analyst at RAND Andrus Merilo, Chief of Defence of Estonian Defence Forces Charlotte Petri Gornitzka, Director General at MSB (Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency) Major General Andrus Merilo reminded the audience that awareness and preparedness alone are not enough to deter threats: “Situational awareness must always be translated into situational understanding.” Watch the #HSF2024 panel here: https://lnkd.in/dBuJGfum

📣 The President of the European Council invited the 27 leaders to the 3 February 2025 informal meeting on defence in Brussels. ✔️ The purpose of this meeting is to prepare the ground for the decisions needed and to provide guidance to the European Commission and the High Representative, as they prepare a white paper on the future of European defence. 🛡️ Principles proposed as a basis: * Europe needs to assume greater responsibility for its own defence. It needs to become more resilient, more efficient, more autonomous and a more reliable security and defence actor.  * Member States will always be responsible for their armed forces. At the same time, we have a common interest in cooperating more closely at European level in order to maximise economies of scale and reduce costs, guarantee interoperability, ensure stable and long-term demand – so as to give more predictability to our industry – and prevent duplication. 

🗞️ The newest edition of Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S)'s magazine 'Desider' is out now featuring Samira Braund MBA, our Defence Director!   This feature piece explains how the UK defence industry can secure strategic advantage by changing its current behaviours. Focussing on innovation and investment it discusses what the UK Ministry of Defence can do to help secure competitive advantage for the UK.   Read in full here: https://lnkd.in/ea_25zT   #defence #defenceindustry #investindefence

The EU's EDIRPA programme is transforming defence. With €300M in funding, this initiative drives collaboration among Member States, focusing on ammunition, air defence, and modern armoured vehicles. Key projects like MISTRAL and CAVS are reshaping European defence. #EuropeanDefence #MilitaryInnovation #Security

❗New Analysis❗ What are the main challenges and opportunities facing the new European Defence Commissioner? Daniel Fiott has you covered in his latest piece for Internationale Politik Quarterly. Read🔸 https://lnkd.in/eiD8vFmN #EUDefence

At the end of the foreign policy day, the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) case is a business agreement. As with any formal, binding agreement, there is an implied duty of good faith, to include—in the security assistance world—the fulfillment of Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) commitments. When that good faith is violated, or specific elements of the LOA are disregarded, a material or actual breach occurs. This could result in the international partner seeking some kind of termination for cause, if they so choose, with accompanying restitution. I would suggest that close to 95% of all Air and Missile Defense complex weapon system LOAs have been—and continue to be—breached in some form. The likelihood of the FMS partner being aware of the statutory and regulatory directives that drive compliance is unlikely. Recourse would be even less likely given it would be unprecedented with an accompanying litigation nightmare. In the commercial business world, this intentional, wrongful, and unlawful conduct would never survive legally. But for the FMS partner, it is of course all about acquiring the technology above all else. But isn’t it time for the US Government to take a close look at this malfeasance instead of blindly standing behind, encouraging, or ignoring it?

The three criteria that will define the future of EU defence industry: The new three-part definition of what makes an EU defence company could change the way the market operates, the way the armies look, and the role of the Commission over the next fifty years.