The European Commission announced on Tuesday, April 22nd, a list of EU funds that could be redirected towards defense-related activities with the aim of ramping up the continent’s military production capacity.
The proposal introduces what the Commission has termed a “mini-Omnibus,” previewing changes to existing EU programs that could be used to boost investment in the defense sector. The idea is to reallocate resources from various funds, some of which were originally intended for civilian or regional development purposes.
One of the key parts of the proposal is the emphasis on dual-use technologies, products that can be used for both civilian and military purposes. The Commission’s press release states: “The objective is to foster a dynamic innovation ecosystem that speeds up the development and deployment of cutting-edge dual-use and defense technologies, like AI and cybersecurity.”
However, the initiative has not been without controversy. Some academic institutions and civil society groups have raised concerns about the implications of merging defense and civilian priorities. They fear that expanding the scope of civilian programs to include dual-use research could “cannibalize” funding for basic research and non-military innovation.
Critics pointed out that the Commission has not carried out any impact assessment for these proposals. In fact, none of the defense schemes introduced under European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have been based on formal impact assessments. These proposals are expected to be formalized in the broader ‘omnibus’ legislative package this June.
