EU agrees to simplify arms procurement to speed up Europe's rearmament

The Council of the European Union and the European Parliament have reached a preliminary agreement on new simplified rules aimed at accelerating arms procurement, defense project implementation, and cooperation between European manufacturers.

According to the Council, cited by Report's European Union, the agreement will reduce bureaucratic procedures in procurement and licensing, simplify the movement of defense products between EU countries, and expand opportunities for joint procurement.

One of the key changes is the introduction of a maximum timeframe of 102 working days for issuing permits for defense projects. The thresholds for complex tender procedures will also be raised, allowing governments to conclude contracts more quickly and focus on large-scale rearmament programs.

The new rules are expected to help EU member states launch defense projects faster, better coordinate joint purchases, and reduce the time between decision-making and the delivery of military equipment. The goal is to strengthen Europe's defense capabilities by 2030.