The Riigikogu supports the EU Programme for defence innovation
The European Union Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) approved Estonia’s positions on the European Union’s pilot programme that provides that already next year, EUR 115 million will be allocated for the acceleration of innovation in defence.
Chairman of the European Union Affairs Committee Peeter Tali said that Estonia supported the objectives of the AGILE Programme, like the acceleration of innovation cycles, development of breakthrough technologies and cost-effective technologies, and the role of smaller enterprises in defence innovation.
“While 115 million euros is not a huge sum, we have to start somewhere, and it will go to the right place. It is positive that the initiative encourages the cooperation between smaller companies and large defence industry companies, and production specifically within the European Union, so that our independent production capacity in the defence industry could grow. This is undoubtedly necessary for strengthening European security and also useful in every way for Estonian defence industry companies,” Tali added. “High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, and European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius have done and continue to do excellent work.”
According to the positions, we support the adoption of new technologies and innovation in the defence sector. We also support the continuation of the programme in the next European Union budget period. We find that the programme should support solutions based on the defence needs of the countries of the eastern flank of Europe and the lessons learned from Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. We are of the opinion that Ukrainian companies should also be able to submit proposals.
At today’s sitting of the European Union Affairs Committee, Director of the Defence Industry Development Department of the Ministry of Defence Miiko Peris gave an overview of the positions of the Government on the Programme for agile and rapid defence innovation (AGILE). The European Union Affairs Committee approved the positions by consensus, taking into account the opinion of the National Defence Committee.
Riigikogu Press Service
Merilin Kruuse
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