New targeted amendments to existing EU funding programmes will support faster, more flexible and coordinated investments in Europe's defence technological and industrial base (EDTIB). Under a new Regulation to stimulate defence-related investments within the EU budget proposed today by the Commission, the EU will strengthen its defence Readiness 2030 and to implement the ReArm Europe plan.

The proposed changes will enhance the ability of the EU and Member States to develop, scale up and innovate in key defence capabilities, while streamlining access to EU funds for defence-related projects. The proposal broadens the scope of the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) to cover defence-related technologies and products, particularly those identified as priority capabilities in the recent White Paper for European Defence - Readiness 2030. This approach ensures that STEP effectively supports the development of cutting-edge technologies essential for the EU's defence preparedness, by awarding selected projects under the European Defence Fund, Horizon Europe, and the Digital Europe Programme with a STEP Seal. The extended scope of STEP is also expected to boost investments in critical technologies for defence under cohesion policy funded by the EU budget, in particular under the specific objectives in the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and Cohesion Fund (CF). This approach ensures that STEP effectively supports the development of cutting-edge technologies essential for the EU's defence preparedness.