The Council of the European Union announced on October 16 that EU member governments have reached an agreement with the European Parliament on the implementation of the "European Defence Industrial Plan" on the same day.

According to the agreement, between 2025 and 2027, the European Defence Industrial Programme will receive the first €1.5 billion allocation for expanding defence production capacity, joint arms procurement, and supply chain development.

The programme laid the legal framework for EU investment and joint procurement in the field of defence for the first time.In order to ensure that the main beneficiaries are companies in EU countries, the agreement stipulates that components from countries such as the United States can only be purchased within a very limited range of funded defence industrial projects.

Francois Xavier Bellamy, a member of the European Parliament, said: "The 'European Defense Industry Plan' will reverse the long-standing practice of importing (weapons) in Europe and effectively support the development of our defense industry."

According to Agence France-Presse, more than 60% of the EU's military equipment and systems currently come from outside the EU, mainly from the United States. The EU wants to reduce this ratio to 45%. (Wang Xinfang)