{"id":21504,"date":"2017-12-05T17:24:41","date_gmt":"2017-12-05T17:24:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2017\/12\/05\/no-power-grab-bolstered-eu-defense-cant-happen-in-isolation\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T21:58:32","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T21:58:32","slug":"no-power-grab-bolstered-eu-defense-cant-happen-in-isolation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/global\/europe\/2017\/12\/05\/no-power-grab-bolstered-eu-defense-cant-happen-in-isolation\/","title":{"rendered":"No power grab: Bolstered EU defense can’t happen in isolation"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Jorge Domecq, chief executive of the European Defence Agency, digs into investment of the European Defence Fund, whether companies based in the U.K. will get a shot at those investments post-Brexit and what the EU’s growing focus on defense means for NATO.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n

BRUSSELS \u2014 A high-level summit in Brussels was told that a solid European defense industry is critical for an autonomous European defense sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Jorge Domecq, chief executive of the European Defence Agency (EDA) stressed that this did not mean Europe \u201cturns its back\u201d to cooperation with partners such as the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cQuite the contrary,\u201d he told the European Defence Industry Summit. The cyber field, said Domecq, is just one example of the need for continued partnership, dialogue and exchange, \u201cnotably across the Atlantic.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But this also means transatlantic burden sharing is not limited to the doctrinal and operational domains only, but should include the technological and industrial dimension.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe technological dimension is indeed of particular importance in times where defense industry is facing the challenge to integrate fast-evolving, if not disruptive, technologies coming from the civilian sector, so as to develop state-of-the-art capabilities,\u201d Domecq said. \u201cThe U.S. Third Offset Strategy clearly addresses this issue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The one day summit Dec. 4 emphasized that while EU defense cooperation remains a priority for Europe, questions remain. For example, it remains unclear how to prioritize and strengthen European security, or how to achieve a \u201cstrong and innovative\u201d European defense sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Domecq, who gave the opening keynote address, said the summit came at the end of a \u201cremarkable year\u201d in European defense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He told the 200-strong gathering: \u201cFollowing last year\u2019s launch of the EU Global Strategy, this year has focused on delivering on the promise to make the EU a more credible actor in security and defense as well as make the EU assume its fair share of the transatlantic defense burden.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that to build and develop defense capabilities \u201cwe need collaborative programs and projects led by member states.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He added: \u201cTo successfully implement those programs, we need a competitive and innovative European defense technological and industrial base.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Domecq, who has been in his current role since 2015, pledged that the EU will \u201csystematically\u201d encourage defense cooperation and strive to create a \u201csolid\u201d European defense industry, adding that this is \u201ccritical for Europe\u2019s autonomy of decision and action.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turning to the specific role of the defense industry, he told the conference it was necessary to reach out to innovative companies beyond the traditional players within defense industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEngagement with industry can be more efficient, successful and of greater value if it responds to and meets commonly agreed objectives,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking to the future, the EDA chief said a priority for enhanced interaction with the defense sector was capability development. A test case of improved dialogue between Industry and capability planers is, he noted, now being underway by the EDA on the long-term aspects of military warfare focused on remotely piloted air systems. Another priority area is research, technology and innovation, where the aim, he said, is to maximize the development of new projects with the participation of industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some have criticized the EU\u2019s defense ambitions as a \u201cpower grab\u201d<\/a> which may conflict with NATO, but Domecq insisted that the EDA\u2019s interaction with industry \u201cwill be without prejudice to the member states\u2019 role as the ultimate decision makers both in capability and R&T domains.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t