New simplification proposal will speed up defence investments in the EU

The European Commission has proposed new measures to cut red tape and facilitate the €800 billion of investment that EU countries need to ensure their defence industries can deliver at speed and scale.

According to an announcement on the European Office of Cyprus (EOC) website, the measures build on the vision set out in the White Paper for European Defence-Readiness 2030 that identified simplifying and harmonising rules as an essential way to boost Europe’s defence preparedness.

Known as the Defence Readiness Omnibus, the measures will facilitate investments in defence capabilities, provide greater predictability to industry, and make it easier to access EU funding.

Specifically, they will:

• Introduce a fast-track permitting regime for defence projects across the EU that reduces the permitting process timeframe to 60 days and establish single points of contact in EU countries for the defence industry
• Reduce the administrative burden in the European Defence Fund (EDF) for applicants and participants, and facilitate Ukrainian entities’ increased participation in the EDF
• Encourage joint purchases and increase contract thresholds to ease procurement and speed up cross-border transfers of defence products
• Clarify the application of existing EU-wide rules such as competition or environmental laws
• Ensure that chemicals regulations accommodate defence needs
• Improve access to finance by streamlining InvestEU eligibility criteria, providing guidance on sustainable investments in defence and clarifying the notion of prohibited weapons

The proposal incorporates feedback from a public consultation launched in March 2025 and includes input from President von der Leyen’s Strategic Dialogue with the European defence industry in May. As a next step, the European Parliament and the Council will negotiate the Defence Readiness Omnibus, the announcement said.

The European Office of Cyprus (EOC) is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation based in Nicosia, with representation offices in Brussels and in Athens. It was founded in 2007 by 18 Cypriot organisations from a wide spectrum of sectors and interests. As noted on its website, the European Office of Cyprus aims to offer support to its members, so they can maximise the funding and development opportunities offered by the European Union.

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