European defence industry: Council identifies the first five projects of common interest
The Council today approved five European Defence Projects of Common Interest (EDPCIs) to strengthen Europe’s defence readiness and industrial capacity. The projects will bring European countries together to develop critical capabilities in drones and counter-drone systems, maritime and seabed defence, space, air and missile defence, and the protection of Europe’s eastern flank.
EDPCIs were introduced by the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP) adopted by the EU in 2025. They are collaborative industrial projects designed to contribute to the development of member states’ military capabilities that are critical for the security and defence interests of the Union. The projects allow EU countries to work together on major defence initiatives that are too large or too complex for individual countries to develop on their own.
The five selected projects are now eligible to receive EU funding through the EDIP. The funding will enable the projects’ initial deployment and lay the foundation for possible further funding via the upcoming European Competitiveness Fund.
These projects further demonstrate the practical cooperation between EU member states to provide for our own security. Working closely with our partners Norway and Ukraine, together we are taking decisive steps to protect space, our skies, our seas, undersea cables and our citizens who depend on them.
Helen McEntee, Minister for Defence of Ireland
The identified EDPCIs are:
- Drone and Counter-Drone European Resolve (DECODER). This project will help European countries build, scale up, and deploy drones — and technology to stop enemy drones — to address critical capability gaps across the participating countries.
- Integrated Maritime and Seabed Defence (IMSD). This project will create an integrated and interoperable defence system allowing participating countries to identify, deter, and respond to threats at sea and on the seabed.
- SPACE will strengthen Europe’s space capabilities in several critical areas. These include early-warning satellites to detect missile launches, satellite communications, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, as well as precise positioning and timing systems. The project will also enhance capabilities for navigation warfare and the rapid launch of replacement satellites when needed.
- EU Federated Integrated Air and Missile Defence including Early Warning (EU-FIAMD). This project will provide member states with collective and effective integrated air and missile defence – including early warning of incoming threats and coordinated command systems.
- Eastern Flank Watch (EFW) will boost security along the eastern border of the participating countries, covering land, air, sea, cyber, and other domains, with the aim of protecting their entire territory and thereby strengthen their defence readiness.
Background
On 16 February 2026, the Commission launched a call for expressions of interest aimed at consulting EU member states on the identification of possible European Defence Projects of Common Interest. Nine project proposals were submitted.
On 3 July 2026 – taking into account the opinion of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the European Defence Agency – the Commission proposed a list of five EDPCIs.