In this report, the Center Delàs d’Estudis per la Pau and the European Network Against Arms Trade (ENAAT) highlight the opacity of the projects benefiting from the first round of financing of the European Defense Fund. This research discuss transparency issues during the Mid-Term review of the EDF projects funded under the 2021 Call of the European Comission (EC), focusing on a representative sample of 6 projects. The investigation shows that the problematic aspects already detected in the initial PADR and EDIDP calls have not improved, being as questionable and controversial as in their day, and even with a tendency to worsen. Some of the problems identified are: lack of transparency in the application of EU ethical guidelines; lack of transparency in the project review process; lack of transparency in technical aspects that can generate situations that are ethically unacceptable and contrary to international law; or lack of control in the use of unmanned systems that use AI technologies.
Read the press release in Spanish, English and French
Access the full report and its executive summary in English and Spanish here