Committee on Security and Defence Ordinary meeting Joint meeting Committee on Transport and Tourism
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SEDE European Parliament
Follow its sittingsMichał Szczerba
Thank you very much. Good afternoon to everybody, dear madam chairs, dear colleagues. I would like to begin by thanking my co-reporter Rob Roberts Ziele, dear colleagues, shadow reporters, teams involved for their very committed work on these compromise amendments. As you know, we received more than 1,200 amendments, which shows the political, strategic, and technical significance of this file. The compromise negotiations are an important step forward.
The proposed amendments make the proposal more operational, balanced, and better adopted, adapted to the strategic realities Europe is facing. As of now, we have two compromise amendments, which are almost ready. We'll discuss them more closely at the political level during our next shadows meeting in Strasbourg. Let me therefore focus on what is already prepared and go through the main elements of these compromises. First, on military transport permissions.
The compromise in article five strengthens the system of standing military transport permissions, the reduction of the deadline for granting such permissions to one month. This is a meaningful improvement. The compromise introduces important safeguards where predefined roads are established, competent infrastructure managers must be involved. Military transport cannot be planned in isolation from practical constraints. I also welcome the emphasis on proportionality.
The usual working conditions of transport workers should be disrupted only where it is strictly necessary and proportionate. The same logic applies to article six on ad hoc military transport and missions. Reducing the deadline to working days is a concrete improvement for operational responsiveness. Second, on coordination along corridors, the compromise makes clear that member states situated along the same military mobility corridor should align their standing permissions and coordinate in advance. I also welcome the reference to the last mile and to the extremities of the military mobility corridors.
The transition from the TNT network to local infrastructure is often where real operational problems occur, particularly for heavy military equipment. Military mobility doesn't stop at the Union's borders. The practical effectiveness of the system will depend on whether transport roads, procedures, and infrastructure connections also function at the extremities of the corridors, including links with Ukraine and Moldova. The explicit reference to NATO, permissions are included in article 10, 11. It is important.
Member states should not impose additional requirements that would restrict operational flexibility. Third, the exemption in articles twelve and thirteen respond to operational realities. Military transport carried out under a valid permission should be allowed on weekends. It's obvious public holidays, nighttime, and other periods normally subject to traffic restrictions. The military mobility digital information system under article 14 is one of the most important elements of compromise.
Equally important are the cybersecurity safeguards. On customs, article 15 is practical and necessary. Also, we have improvements in article 17, 32, 33. So, taking together these compromises, we make this regulation stronger and more credible. They improve procedures, reduce delays, strengthen digitalization, enhance interoperability with NATO, and bring infrastructure resilience to the centre of this proposal.
Thank you.
Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann
Thank you very much. And now I give the floor to Tan Corapateur Roberts for 4 minutes.
Roberts Zīle
Thank you. Thank you very much, madam chair. So, well, I will not repeat what Michal already said, and I also would like to thank him and his team for a good cooperation and also all the shadows with all their teams. Had a good poly one shadow meeting, which created political base for several chapters. I well, Mikhail said about two chapters, but almost the third one chapter also could be almost ready on technical level.
Speaker 7
So we gave a good mandate at technical level, and then people are working well. So, of course, definitely, there are still remaining issues. I will just name a few of them that would be, we as a majority, we see that we would like to involve the private companies who worked in combined transport and others one in those military mobility issues as well. But it means there should be some also compensation for infrastructure managers, for example, for priority military freight, which created some disadvantages for the civic freight and cargo. So that's why I think here we see a good development.
Roberts Zīle
We have to also create the rules for those involved from those companies in the military convoy with some social guarantees and things like that. We will finalize this part as well. We also still not yet ready for the solidarity pool, but we already discussed in our previous rounds that currently, we have more problems that solidarity pool will be too empty, if I may say so. Send to overboard them with different rolling stock in the solidarity pool. We have to find a good solution for the MR situations because it would require a very fast reaction for those who are creating those military convoys in case of crisis.
So that's why I think, in general, progress is very well. We're still ahead, also. We're going with infrastructure and funding issues. But as I told also previously, we are not, how to say, prioritizing public money spending on dual use infrastructure. It's not our aim.
It's more like connecting your facility issues with the military mobility component in the new MFF and regulation as well. So I think we would like to avoid those fights in this regulation for financial resources, except maybe for digitalization. Because as we discovered that there are some pilot projects already paid as on digital field, improvement of digital field in military mobility by European Defense Fund. And at the same time, if we would just create new tenders and forget about the pilot projects, which are currently actually operating by several member states, so it would be not the best value for the money spent. It's taxpayers' money, actually, so that's why we would like to incorporate this in our compromises pretty clearly that we would like to see a quicker and more economic approach on digitalization as well.
And, of course, our solidarity or not Paul's already mentioned, enhanced you, NATO synergy as well. We had we sank we in majority, we have a good opportunity for a good compromise on this field. So after two weeks, second shadow meeting in Strasbourg, and we will go ahead. And, also, I rely very much on the technical level, and thank you for attention.
Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann
Thank you very much. Now I will pass on the floor for comments and questions to CD and Trane's shadow repertoires for a maximum of three minutes each. And we start with EPP, the Trane Corpo, Darius.
Dariusz Joński
Thank you, Tre. First of all, I would like to thank call reporter and shadow reporter and those involved in the important dossier for the constructive approaches in working towards compromises. I am pleased with the negotiation we conducted during our shadow reporter meeting, and I know that technical meeting, military also made a good progress. For us, the priority is very clear. We need a military shank in Europe, a fast, secure, and simple mob mobility system.
The second, EMS must work in practice, covering the entire transport chain and removing bottlenecks. The third, shortening permit insurance times to three days, of course, faster than the crisis by reducing procedure fragmentation. The fourth, clear ex flexibility regulations in emergency EU level, the regulation is necessary. The fifth, strengthening the resilience of infrastructure, including digital, against cyber attacks and DNSS disruptions. The sixth, solidarity pool should be stable, efficient, and open to the private sector.
And this is exactly what the report is about, and our amendment. So I would like to add this. It's about Europe's operational cap capability, not just transport policy. So less bureaucracy, more coordination, and real readiness for military mobility. Thank you.
Speaker 13
Madam Chair, we are clear on both many things. What we need to do is simplify the procedures for our armies. We need to make sure that we simplify the measures for transport and getting around all this unnecessary bureaucracy. I am convinced, colleagues, that we will achieve our aims because we have no choice, actually. I'd like to congratulate both rapporteurs for all the work that they've done and the proposals that have been suggested.
I'd like to emphasize that the new simplification and digitalization, simplified digitization, is very important. The making sure that our supplies are more secure in terms of fuel, but also we could have some improvements there. And I would ask you to consider the amendments, first of all, to give preference to the European systems in the solidarity pool. So these things need to be made in Europe. And also, we shouldn't be buying from high risk suppliers, for example, China.
We need to have reliable equipment. We also need to ensure that the solidarity pool is interoperable with what else exists, because often there are health risks, there is destruction, disasters. We can see all of this. You can see what's happening in Ukraine, for example. So everything in the solitary pool needs to be able to help our medical staff, for example, to help as well as the armies, but it's all the infrastructure around that as well.
So we should be able to ensure that one, there's a one-stop shop that just by one click, you can get help in various different fields. We need to make sure there's no conflict between member states, or we shouldn't suppress our social movements either. We need to make sure that after six months, the European Parliament will be able to approve or reject any extension to this. And we need to make sure that there's no pretext to get around workers' rights as well. Working time shouldn't be lengthened unreasonably.
Our workers need to be covered if they are injured in any operation. Also, drivers as well. If you don't have drivers, you don't have controllers, then all of this will not lead anywhere. So we need to make sure that they are protected as well.
Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann
Thank you very much. And now ECR, Raines from SEDE isn't here. Alec Sander, do you want to take the floor?
Speaker 15
Thanks, madam chair. So, yes, on behalf of the ECR, this work on military mobility is not just another file on our agenda. It is rather a cornerstone or one of the cornerstones of the European security. At a time when the geopolitical conditions demand clarity, readiness, and coordination, improving our ability to move forces swiftly and efficiently across the Union is essential. For the ECR, this legislation represents a practical and necessary step towards strengthening our collective defense, and we remain strongly supportive of its objectives.
I would like to begin by commending the entire team for the excellent work carried out so far. The doubt compromises reflects a serious and constructive effort to bridge the positions, and technical meetings have been conducted in a spirit of efficiency and cooperation that deserves recognition. Overall, we are satisfied with the direction this legislation is taking. The progress achieved gives a solid foundation for the next stages of negotiations. At the same time, we should be clear-eyed about the work that still lies ahead.
We have not yet fully engaged with some of the more sensitive and potentially divisive elements, including emails and solidarity pools. This discussion will require the same level of pragmatism and openness that has characterized the work so far. Looking ahead, it's crucial that we maintain this positive and constructive momentum. If we continue in this spirit, I'm confident we can reach a balanced solution that reinforces both our security and our unity too. Thank you.
Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann
Thank you very much. And now for Renu, Seide Petras. Floor is yours.
Petras Auštrevičius
Thank you, chair. I wish to thank both Rapporteurs. They provided us with a very good compromise draft for our joint work to be conducted now and in the close future. Indeed, we shouldn't waste any time. We have to move as swiftly as possible.
We already had a meeting, and it will be more on a technical level. But indeed, a couple of things probably to have from my side. If we and I am sure we are consider ourselves as a union. We have to act as a new union. We have to move as a union.
Okay? And those words for me are key because we have to work indeed in collective efforts and in good coordination because, otherwise, to cross so many, you know, critical infrastructure things as well as to have, you know, technical, procedural, administrative protocols in place, it takes indeed a lot to make it ready and effectively implemented. So that's why our work, if I understand correctly, is to present and to agree on those technical, procedural, administrative and more things in order to have this union approach overall. Indeed, we have to modernize critical infrastructure. We have to increase our capacities, and we have to have those protocols moving things as swiftly as possible.
Madam chair, I believe we have all the necessary prerequisites for agreeing on our final document, and then entering the trial with the commission and council as soon as possible. And I'm sure we have to do it on the right time by summer break as much as possible. Thank you.
Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann
Thank you very much, Pedraz. Now we come to Renaud Tran, Valérie Devo. Thank.
Valérie Devaux
Thank you very much. Work on this text is proceeding well, so I'd like to thank the contributors for these productive negotiations. A majority of groups in the parliament support the objective of facilitating troop and equipment movements in Europe, which is something very welcome. Given that this is a particularly sensitive subject, however, reflection should always be based on the need to make the best possible use of the various mechanisms. For example, when the mechanism is activated, that needs to take place in a fluid way, but with a political decision behind it because it's a significant measure.
I support the proposal to delete obligations like an impact assessment, which could be too difficult in an urgent situation. Furthermore, if we need to, if we're to ensure that our transportation networks are effective in general and in particular in crisis situations, then we shouldn't depend on suppliers for critical elements. So that's a key aspect of this regulatory framework. And the same goes for the solidarity pool that should be based on reliable sources. One final point, protection of the infrastructures.
There I think that we need to adopt a broad approach because we need to bear in mind that as well as strictly transport infrastructure, we also have energy infrastructure, for example, fuel stores or digital equipment. Those are of key importance, and they should be recognized as being a strategic interest. Thank you.
Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann
And we continue with the Greens. See the cooperator Martin.
Martin Häusling
Thank you very much. And I also want to thank both reporters and their teams for the very good cooperation so far. And two topics from my side, one is on the emergency mechanism. I have heard that some of the potential proposals by the council will want to weaken this mechanism through complicated derogations. If we water this mechanism down too much, it simply will not work in practice.
Speaker 21
Here in the apartment, we should make sure the mechanism is efficient and functions for its intended purpose, to make sure that when it really matters, our military equipment can move quickly and without any obstacle. From our perspective, the 15, 20 millimeter railway gauge issue is a key priority in this file. Several member states on the eastern border still operate on the wider gauge. And while we are committed to migration to the European standard, that will take years. In the meantime, this is the infrastructure we have on the ground.
Speaker 22
And if the threat of the 15, 20 millimeter track needs investments to serve mill military mobility, there should be a way to fund it. Our amendment is narrow. Where this infrastructure is strategically important, dual use investment should remain eligible. So thank you for your amendments, and let's continue our work on this file.
Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann
Thank you very much, Martins. And now we continue with the left for the Coraporto from Trane, Maria.
Merja Kyllönen
Thank you, Madam Chair, both of you and dear colleagues, as dual use MEP working both in SEDE and TRUN as a left TRUN coordinator from Finland, I want to say that I fully support this proposal because I know the situation by living in Northeast Finland. What is the Europe security environment at this moment? And it has changed fundamentally. And the war in Ukraine following Russia's illegal aggression has exposed a simple but urgent truth. Our ability to move quickly, reliably, and across borders is now central to both defense and resilience.
Speaker 24
Military mobility is not a niche defense issue. It is, by nature, dual-use. Our transport corridors, railways, ports, and logistics hubs serve both civilian life and military needs. Recognizing this explicitly matters, it ensures that when we invest public funds, we design infra that we can handle not only daily economic activity, but also crisis situations, including the evacuation and transport of wounded persons by both civilian and military services. But recognizing dual use is not enough.
Without struck a structured coordination between military authorities and civilian transport ministries, we risk fragmentation, inefficiency and missed opportunities. Investment may fall short of operational needs, weakening both our defense readiness and our ability to respond to crises. This is why integrated planning and coordination must be at the heart of this regulation. Member states should ensure the relevant authorities jointly plan, develop, and maintain infra and logistic systems. These systems must remain interoperable, resilient, and functional in all circumstances, peacetime, crisis, and emergency alike.
Merja Kyllönen
This is about more than mobility. It is about security of supply, continuity of society, and responsible use of public funds. By aligning civilian and military needs, we strengthen preparedness, avoid duplication, and maximize impact. In today's reality, military mobility is a cornerstone of European strategic resilience. These provisions are not optional.
These are essential. And where you need compromise builder, here I am ready to work constructively and innovate in a way, innovation way if needed. Thank you. Dual action, military mobility, dual use. Thank you.
Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann
Yeah. Thank you. Thank you very much. The second round will be chaired by the Trump chair.
Elissavet Vozemberg-Vrionidi
Thank you very much, Marie Agnès. I have to ask if any colleague wants to take the floor for one minute. Yes, please.
Speaker 26
Thank you very much. Only I took the floor in order to congratulate the reporters and the shadow reporters. I think that we have in front of us a very well drafted report, which deals with all the relevant issues, which touches upon all the challenges we have in front of us. I wanted to remind that this is only a first approach, first stage approach for the Eastern Frontier in which we recognize that they have priority because of the threat, the real and existential threat there, but to remind that we have to keep the 360 degree approach. And probably in the next report, we have to include also Southern, Eastern, Western, Southern European corridors and hotspots, as well as priorities for the European Union.
Speaker 25
It is a political commitment, and I only wanted to raise it again. The principal obstacles are not material or transport, transport is red tape and bureaucracy. And I think that is also well tackled in the report, and I hope that we'll be able to deliver very quickly. Thank you very much.
Elissavet Vozemberg-Vrionidi
Thank you very much. If there is no other colleague, then I will give the floor to the commission representative. Mister Arunas Venturas is here. Yes. For three minutes, sir.
Thank you very much.
Arūnas VINČIŪNAS
Thank you. Honorable members of parliament, many thanks, first of all, for this opportunity to address the joint transcript meeting. Let me underline from the outset, the excellent cooperation with co-rapporteurs, Miss Joseph Robert Zile and Michal Serba and their teams. We also highly value the strong and constructive engagement of members of the SEDE and TRAN committees. Your expertise and commitment to deliver on this file as a matter of priority are clearly reflected in the amendments tabled, and the intensive work being carried out.
The commission welcomes the strong support expressed for streamlining rules and procedures, strengthening the resilience of dual-use infrastructure, and for ensuring that our emergency framework fits the needs of armed forces on the ground. These are central pillars of our proposal. For, as you rightly emphasized, our geopolitical environment has fundamentally changed. Ensuring that our militaries can move at speed, at scale, across the union is now a core requirement of our defense readiness and credible deterrence. It is for this very reason that we need to ensure that the ambition level remains high.
Speaker 28
Military mobility can only contribute substantially to the defense readiness and credible deterrence if the whole of EU territory is covered by Emirates to ensure operational effectiveness and political unity. If there is a single rule book for military transport in Europe where member states benefit from unified procedures for their permissions, and if clear protection and resilience measures for strategic dual use infrastructure are identified and set out. It can only contribute substantially if member states have a clear framework to share and pool the necessary military mobility capabilities, and the Union is able to complement member states' efforts with additional Union capabilities. And if governance is strengthened while not creating additional administrative burdens, with a military mobility transport group that is able to advise the commission on the implementation of this regulation. The commission looks positively at all contributions that aim to make this regulation a success, particularly those that improve clarity and support effective implementation on the ground.
Honorable members, we look forward to the consolidated report, and we remain fully available in the meantime for any technical support or clarification you may require. Thank you very much.
Elissavet Vozemberg-Vrionidi
Thank you very much, mister Vicionas. And now we'll give the floor to our co-chairs for one minute each. First, Mister Zeile, please.
Roberts Zīle
Yes. Thank you, colleagues, for all the constructive interventions. So I really enjoy very much that it's cross group views, in a very pragmatic way. So I guess that we will get good results. And I like what, also, Petra said about that we have to also move through Europe Military, if you are not to react as a Europe union, and so, but also nice words could be covered by real good work.
But from that, we have to be serious, with our position, parliament's position, I mean, in a committee and our written plenary for first reading for good mandate for negotiations with council because we already Martin said about some I also have some rumors from council side. If the council will not be able to overtake those borders between member states on such important issue like military mobility, then we will fight very much so. And even Mike like my group, which is very much a subsidiary of euro euro, you know, for member states. But at the same time, there are some crucial points to save the European Union on with an important issue, like its military mobility. And if it will, we cannot deliver, send what we are talking about.
So it's a high level on a council level. The governments have to be sure that parliament's position would be very strong in this direction. Thank you.
Elissavet Vozemberg-Vrionidi
Thank you very much, Mr. Zeile. But I have to continue with mister Yes. Mister Scherba, please, for.
Michał Szczerba
One minute. Yes. Thank you very much, and thank you, the colleagues, for this constructive discussion and your support in this process. I'm sure, as also Robert confirmed, the fall is moving in the right direction. And these amendments and the compromises, especially we are discussing today, go far beyond technical amendments.
First, they ensure real interoperability with NATO. Second, they introduce the category of close partners and create a legal basis for cooperation with them. Third, they strengthen the infrastructure dimension, especially in relation to the last mile and the extremities of military mobility corridors. Fourth, they explicitly include fuel and energy infrastructure as a part of military mobility infrastructure. Fifth, they strengthen resilience more broadly.
Six, strengthen the digital dimension. Finally, the compromises also safeguard the European character of this digital solutions. So in the coming weeks, we will continue work on the remaining compromises. I count on the same constructive spirit so that we can proceed in line with the agreed timetable and deliver a strong parliamentary position on this strategically important file. Thank you.
Elissavet Vozemberg-Vrionidi
Thank you very much. Now we will give the floor to mister Sepe that just came, and then mister Ionski wants to conclude for something.
Speaker 29
Thank you. Thank you very much, madam Chair. I prefer to speak in Spanish, please.
Speaker 30
I'd like to apologize, firstly, because I've just come from another committee meeting, but I didn't want to miss the chance to speak on behalf of Mister Diropo as shadow rapporteur for S and D. He's currently abroad on a mission, and he asked me to speak on his behalf. Firstly, I'd like to stress that my colleague motion put forward 137 amendments. I've signed some of them. And the technical meetings and the shadow rapporteur meetings, things were very constructive.
Mister Rupo wanted to highlight four issues which are extremely important for the S and D. Firstly, triggering the European response. If there is a serious crisis or a threat to security, the union must be able to act in a coordinated manner and in a swift and efficient manner. Secondly, we also wanted to highlight the rights of workers. An emergency can't justify anything and everything.
And we also don't think that we should allow any sort of circumvention of workers' rights. Thirdly, the responsibility for the military burden. We need legal certainty. We can't impose on transport workers or military workers. We can't impose responsibilities on them in any way.
And also, the last point is on dual use. We must remove any bottlenecks relating to both military and civilian uses when it comes to these strategic aspects. Finally, the SND firmly supports the general objective of this regulation. We think that our military mobility is important, but we must be socially responsible and have legal certainty to make sure that this is as effective as possible. Thank you very much on behalf of my group and on behalf of Mr. Doruko.
Elissavet Vozemberg-Vrionidi
Thank you very much. Mister Ionski, you have the floor, sir.
Dariusz Joński
Thank you, sir. Finally, I would like to say a few words in Polish to Paul.
Thank you very much to everybody involved, to all the and the for their great joint work because
Dariusz Joński
is indeed a very important document, and I hope that everybody was able to work on this document quickly, and also beyond divisions. I have good news for the coming Friday. The Polish government will be the first one to sign an agreement to spend almost PLN 180,000,000,000 from the SAFE program, which will be invested in Poland in our security. And the document that we are working on will be an addition to these funds. We will be spending these funds, and these new provisions in the case of an emergency will allow us to move our military and our equipment quickly.
Let's hope it will never come to fruition, but it's good to know that Europe will be prepared, that we are spending our money wisely, and that we are able to quickly develop new regulations. Thank you.
Elissavet Vozemberg-Vrionidi
Thank you very much, Darius. Now, dear colleagues, I would like to thank the core reporters, shadow reporters, and other members for this interesting change of views. I understand that work on compromises is already ongoing, and we trust you continue the excellent cooperation our two committees have had so far. The joint vote on this proposal is scheduled in a Tran meeting on a slot on 23 June, with the aim to be ready to start inter institutional negotiations before the summer break. Now, Marie Agnes, you have the floor.
Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann
Thank you very much, dear colleagues. I wish to thank you all for this rich exchange. We encourage the co-reporters and chatterepators to continue the excellent cooperation and agree on the compromises. We have come to the end of our meeting after a three minutes break. CDE members will continue with our ordinary CDE meeting in this room.
And next stage for joint CDE Tron meeting is the twenty-third, you just said it. Sorry. The '20, but oh, it's double. It's better than one. So the 23rd June 2026, then it's a trans slot.
Okay. Thank you very much, and bye. Yes. We have to continue. We are here now.
You. Are
Ana Catarina Mendes
We're gonna time of uncertainty, and we're going to be covering from agriculture to defense. 90% of the fund will be implemented by means of the NRPPs.
I. Was saying that this is one of the largest financial blocks because it includes cohesion, agriculture, defense, and about 90% of the fund will be implemented by means of the NRP piece to the national plans, which makes it extremely important to see how we're going to direct these investments, but we also must ensure coordination because in spite of the fact that they are national plans, we must not forget that there must be coordination at the European level.
In terms of our committee, SEDI, we've been quite clear in our approach. This is not a defense. Instrument. But includes specific objectives of supporting security and defense in the union will have an impact on how Europe invests in its preparedness and resilience.
That is why we try to include some elements to clarify and to ensure consistency in the text, particularly we worked on aligning it with preexisting European instruments such as the competitiveness fund, and the connecting Europe facility, and also the main planning instruments for defense at the union level to prevent any duplication or fragmentation. We paid special attention to the issue of military mobility, dual use infrastructure, cybersecurity, and protecting critical infrastructure, ensuring that there is a clear distinction between what is for defense and what is for internal.
Security? There is a clear concern here. We must ensure that this fund supports relevant investments for security and defense, and that is done so in Acoh. Coherent, consistent way so that we can ensure added value for the union.
Now tomorrow is the deadline for amendments, and we are looking forward to continue working with all of the shadow rapporteurs to ensure that we have a solid opinion. The main challenge that we have here politically speaking is to know how in such a wide-reaching instrument where defense and security sit, and how we can ensure that we meet the objectives that we have in this term.
Now, Ukraine is clearly a priority. Strategic autonomy. Violation of international law by the United States has also shown how important the need to have strategic autonomy is at the European level.
Especially in the area of security and defense, and that is why this tool, this instrument, must bolster industry capacities, the European preference, production in Europe, and we also must ensure that there is a coordination between member states. And I'd also like to make one last point. When it comes to investment in defense, we must also approach this as a way of defending our own democracies because we need to produce tanks, etcetera, and protect ourselves from cyber attacks to defend our own democracies. We must be innovative, and we must bolster our response capacities at the European level.
So thank you once again. I would apologize for my arriving late.
Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann
Thank you very much, Anna. I will now give the floor to the shadow reporters for a maximum of two minutes, and we start with Christophe Gomard from EPP.
Christophe Gomard
Thank you, madam chair. Thank you for the delay, because I was late too.
So thank you, Anna.
Christophe Gomard
So, madam chair, colleagues, first of all, I would like to thank our reporter, Mrs. Anna Catarina Mendez, for her excellent work on the draft opinion of the SEDA committee on the future pillar one for the multinational, multi-annual, sorry, financial framework. I was pleasantly surprised to find that our proposals, missus Vandes and mine, were in line in many aspects, particularly regarding the defense of the union strategic autonomy.
However, I would like to add a few comments on reservations, which I hope will be constructive in order to strengthen attacks that must rise to be the challenges at hand. The PP's work will focus on five priorities. The first priority is of course to clarify the fund's objectives regarding defense spending, to limit industrial fragmentation and ensure its consistency with the union's strategic priorities.
We must not turn Pillar one into a new competitiveness fund national and regional partnerships plan, must remain funding tools that are. Local and easily accessible to SMEs, and consistent with existing strategic documents and sectoral tools for defense.
Will also ensure that the space sector is added to the firm's funding priorities. The second priority is to ensure that audit and procurement procedures are adapted to preserve defense secrecy. The third priority is to ring fence the minimum budget for defense without prejudice for the union's other priorities.
We must be consistent. We require member states to allocate 5% of their GDP to defense. The union's budget must reflect this minimum. Our fourth priority is to clarify the list of eligible entities to limit access to the fund for third countries and foreign companies. Finally, the last of the priorities, which is not directly linked to defense, but which I believe is important, is to ensure a transparent governance model of the fund that respects the principle of subsidiarity.
Thank you.
Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann
Thank you very much, and we continue with Renew and Gain. The floor is yours.
Speaker 32
I'd. Also like to congratulate the rapporteur. It's important that we do proceed in this way in the MFF because threats are acute and we should avoid any problems and make sure that when money is invested under the next MFF that it's invested effectively and can be used for defense.
Concentrating on two main points. First of all, military mobility. Now there's no point building bridges that can't be used for military transport, after all. And another important point, when it comes to actually carrying out defense, is that we need to ensure we don't have any dependencies on third countries.
The defense industry must be in a situation to ramp up production quickly. And that involves the whole supply chain. Which means that we need to spend to either maintain or increase capacity there.
And we all hope this won't happen, but if we do have to defend ourselves, then we need to involve local authorities because it's the local authorities that are responsible for crisis response.
Which means that money needs to be provided under the MFS. Given the progress made in discussion so far, I think we can be optimistic we'll achieve a good solution.
Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann
Thanks. From the Greens, no. Okay. Now I give the floor to any other members who would like to speak for one minute each. Is there somebody you would, okay.
Then finally, I return the floor to the rapporteur if she wants for her final comments.
Ana Catarina Mendes
Anna? Thank you, chair. I think it's quite easy to see in the committee that this is a balanced approach, and that the rapporteur and the shadow rapporteurs, in general terms, are quite aligned.
I'd like to draw attention to the fact that we shouldn't or that we should focus on what falls within our remit and not focus on things that fall within the remit of other committees.
Because this is not a defense instrument, but given how flexible it is as an instrument, well, it's, of course, going to impact defense and security. So again, I just want to highlight the importance of this fund being seen not in isolation, but alongside the other financial instruments that we have at our disposal and that member states have at their disposal when it comes to meeting the security and defense needs.
In the European Union, and I know that sometimes we don't see all the work that is done in this committee, but the committee has done a lot of important work when it comes to kind of missions to see what's happening on the ground and how the instruments are being implemented with that safe EDIP. And I think that is important to ensure this is reflected when it comes to the exercise of the new MFF and all the work that is done. So thank you.
Thank you very much, Anna. So yes, thank you. And now one minute break, because then we will continue, but this item takes place in camera. So please, all electronic devices must be left outside this new meeting room. You could do it outside, and in 5 minutes, we will start.
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