The European Commission welcomes the decision by EU states to approve the first five European defense projects of common interest (EDPCI). This was announced by the European Commission’s press service, as reported by Ukrinform and the PromPolitInform portal.
“These projects will strengthen Europe’s defense capabilities through the joint development of key military systems. Following today’s decision, these defense projects can proceed to the funding stage,” the statement reads.
Under the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP), which has a budget of €1.5 billion, the European Commission has allocated €325 million to support the launch and deployment of EDPCI projects. The industrial initiatives focus on five priority areas: unmanned aerial vehicles and counter-UAS systems; maritime and seabed defense; the space domain; air and missile defense; and strengthening security along the EU’s eastern flank.
These projects were developed in response to the European Commission’s call for member states to express interest and submit proposals for potential EDPCI projects. EDPCIs are large-scale industrial projects that establish a foundation for cooperation among Member States on major defense initiatives—projects too vast or complex for individual countries to implement on their own. They encompass the entire military capability development cycle, from design to deployment and operation.
On average, 18 Member States participate in each project, with Ukraine involved in four of the five.
The European Commission will work closely with participating states to support the implementation of these initiatives and monitor progress. The projects are long-term in nature—extending beyond the current EDIP funding period—and may be supplemented by new ones in the future.
As previously reported, on July 3, 2025, the European Commission submitted a proposal for a Council Implementing Decision to launch European Defence Projects of Common Interest (EDPCI), aiming to fulfill the objectives of the EDIP program regarding the modernization of Europe’s defense industry.
The EDIP Regulation provides for the creation of EDPCIs—large-scale joint industrial projects designed to benefit a wide range of EU countries, while also being open to participation by Norway and Ukraine. The European Commission will provide financial support and assist in coordinating their implementation.
