BRUSSELS – The rising function of the European Commission within the protection and safety sector is confirmed. Today the EU government signed an settlement with Norway and Iceland, permitting the 2 third international locations to connect with the European Union’s safe satellite tv for pc connection. Previously, he had offered a legislative proposal that may permit as much as 115 million euros for use in 2027 to finance innovation within the navy discipline.
The new European satellite tv for pc connection, recognized by the acronym GOVSATCOM and operational since January, offers member international locations with safe communications for public and navy use within the administration of crises, emergencies and operations in distant areas the place conventional infrastructure is proscribed. By becoming a member of the European community, Norway and Iceland may have entry to high-level encrypted communications companies. It needs to be remembered that within the meantime the European Union is growing a constellation of 290 satellites reserved for presidency communications (IRIS²).
Also this week, the Commission offered a brand new programme, recognized by the acronym AGILE, with which to finance between 20 and 30 protection tasks. The program will embrace two important actions: the event of revolutionary merchandise, in addition to the commercialization of those identical merchandise available on the market. AGILE will purpose to disburse the cash inside 4 months of the submission of the tasks. The recipients of the cash will are typically small and medium-sized companies as effectively start-ups.
Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius defined on Wednesday: «Today, round 70-80% of protection procurement in European Union international locations (notably these with excessive spending on this sector) is principally meant for the highest ten largest contractors (usually massive corporations). This is in stark distinction to the state of affairs within the United States, the place lower than 40% of procurements go to the highest ten business gamers.”
Eric Maurice, analyst at the European Policy Center here in Brussels, comments: «The European Union is becoming a security provider, and in some ways the Commission itself is turning into a military actor. By now, the community executive finances innovative projects in the military field; grants loans for the rearmament of member countries through SAFE plans; coordinates ammunition production with the ASAP program; and multiplies security agreements with third countries – the most recent is the one with Australia”.
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