ASD presents policy recommendations for EU political cycle 2024–2029

The Aerospace, Security and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD) has released its Policy Recommendations for the forthcoming European Parliament and Commission mandate spanning from 2024 to 2029.

With the EU elections slated for June, determining the composition of the European Parliament for the next five years, and the new European Commission expected to commence its term in the last quarter of 2024, Europe stands at a critical juncture as it is facing the challenges of the green and digital transitions as well as a dramatically deteriorated security landscape. Its response to these challenges will shape our industry for decades to come.

Representing over 4,000 companies, accounting for 98% of the industry's total turnover and 92% of its employment across Europe, ASD delineated actionable policy directives aimed at fostering a competitive business environment while harnessing the industries' potential for the good of our societies.

ASD Secretary General Jan Pie said:

“The next five years are pivotal to ensure Europe’s sovereignty and security but also for its ambition to master the green and digital transition. ASD’s policy recommendations show a clear way how EU policies can support our industries so they can in turn fully play their role as a key enabler for a strong, safe and sustainable Europe. We are committed to collaborating closely with EU institutions in this collective endeavor.”

ASD's recommendations are structured to address the unique needs of four interrelated industries, which together form a cohesive industrial ecosystem:

In the defence sector, the EU should focus on enhancing industry’s capacity to deliver in time and quantity the equipment that is needed, strengthening technological excellence, ensuring appropriate funding and access to finance, and guaranteeing coherence across EU policies.

The security industry would benefit from a facilitated market uptake via a capability-driven approach, the promotion of synergies between technologies and EU programmes and the development of a genuine EU security industrial policy.

In civil aeronautics, policies should strive towards supporting the European aviation industry to become greener and at the same time maintain its competitive at a global level – this requires a robust partnership between industry and regulators to deliver on global and European sustainable aviation roadmaps with continued funding for Research & Development (through Clean Aviation, SESAR and others), efficient certification procedures based on a properly resourced European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the creation of a Digital European Sky through deployment of SESAR technologies while supporting emerging concepts such as Urban Air Mobility.

Space is key for the EU’s freedom of action and autonomous decision-making. To foster a vibrant and innovative European space industry, the next political cycle should ensure that the EU budget for space reflects the increased ambitions of the EU, set up a coherent European-wide space industrial policy, enforce swift policy implementation of the Space Strategy for Security & Defence and enhance space security and resilience.