How to Make Defence Investable?

Years of neglect have shown that bridging the European defence investment is vital. With two wars on its doorstep, 70% and 7.2% increase from 2023 to 2024 in defence spending by Russia and China, the EU is accelerating investments in the European defence industry is pursuit of more competitive European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB) as well as supporting the reconstruction of Ukraine’s DTIB.

To reconcile urgent needs with long-term investment, the EU has put forward a variety of instruments. Furthermore, the March 2024 European Council tasked “the Council and the Commission to explore all options for mobilising funding and report back by June”, and invited the EIB to adapt its policy on “dual-use goods”.

Topics to be discussed at this Policy Dialogue involve best practice examples, mobilisation of additional investments, identification of hurdles and solutions to accessing finance for SMEs, and the added value of the European Commission’s role in coordinating the European demand for defence and the security of supply.

Participation is open to EPC members only, the media, and EU officials

Event moderator: Maria Martisiute, Policy Analyst, European Policy Centre

Event speakers:

• Edit Komaromi, Head of Sector, Defence Industrial Investments, DG DEFIS, European Commission
• Jan Pie, Secretary General, Aerospace, Security and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD Europe)
• Olha Rozhankovska, International Partnerships Manager, Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation
• Oliver Cusworth, Senior Policy Officer, EIB Security and Defence Office
• Philip Lockwood, Head of Innovation, NATO HQ
• Viktorija Trimbel, Managing Director, Coinvest Capital, INVEGA