NBB #2023-08: Ombudsman opens inquiry on EDF independent experts & risks of conflicts of interest

The latest ENAAT Newsletter is available here: ENAAT NBB 2023-08_17.11.2023

The main news are the Ombudsman inquiry into how the EC ensures independent experts assessing EDF projects do not have conflicts of interest, EU Defence Industry Strategy expected early 2024, and EU Defence ministers calling for better access to (sustainable) finance for arms industry

Summary

EU funding for the arms industry
– EU Defence Fund: Ombudsman’s inquiry on independent experts, 2021 projects fit ill with EU founding principles and values
– EC will present European Defence Industry Strategy early 2024, to include EDIP
– Next EU parliament: security & defence upgraded and women’s rights downgraded?
– EU Defence & Security Summit: more money, more exports, strategic autonomy
– 2024 EU budget: Defence less impacted by austerity
– ASAP calls already launched, Nammo CEO wants 10-to-15-year contracts
– EDA board: EU Defence ministers call for access t finance for arms industry
– EIB top race: French support conditional on backing investment in nuclear energy and defence

other aspects of European militarisation
– MILEX23: EU carries out first military live exercise in Cádiz
– Expected tough discussions on MFF revision risk diverting funds to the military?
– EU Defence discussed by MoDs will also be on December EU summit agenda
– EU extends support to Arms Trade Treaty

EU Peace Facility & related news
– EPF/Ukraine: 8th Tranche still blocked, special €20bn envelop still not agreed
– New assistance measures under EUMAM Ukraine to come soon
– EU unlikely to reach objective of 1 million rounds of ammunition to Ukraine
– other EPF measures: lethal equipment for Somalia?

 

more news

“Security for Whom?” CSOs call EU leaders to move the money from the military to human security

18 June 2026

Ahead of the European Council held on 18 & 19 of June, where leaders will discuss the next EU budgetary cycle, civil society organisations from across the spectrum urge EU decision-makers to reject the military budget surge and invest in human security instead Open Letter initiated by TNI, ENAAT, Stop ReArm Europe 17 June 2026 Dear Heads of States and Governments, In the run-up to the next European Council taking place this week, at which you will discuss the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF 2028–2034), with a view to reaching a final agreement by the end of the

Read more >

Who profits from EU subsidies for the arms industry and where they export: read our fact-sheet

8 June 2026

Who profits from EU subsidies for the arms industry? Find out below which countries and companies benefit the most from the EU Defence Fund (EDF) and the Ammunition fund (ASAP), and where they export. More information and detailed data are available in the public platform Open Security Data Europe Companies European Defence Fund (EDF) After the first three years of the EDF, about a thousand different entities (companies, research institutes, universities, government agencies and a few CSOs) have received funding. It is clear that a large portion of the money goes to a small set of large arms companies.

Read more >

09/06 at 6pm: “Breaking the consensus on EU funding for rearmamament” online conference

21 May 2026

ENAAT, GDAMS & StopReArmEurope invite you to an Interactive Online Conference***A militarised garden: Breaking the consensus on EU funding for rearmament * June 9 2026 at 18:00 CEST The session will begin from a practical observation: Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) who challenge the current policy direction -particularly the rapid growth in certain spending priorities- represent a small minority, which limits their influence. Against this backdrop, the discussion will move beyond simple opposition and instead focus on more constructive and strategic exchange, structures around two main pillars:1) Understanding the MEPs’ perspective:Why do many MEPs feel that there

Read more >