The Aerospace, Security, and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD) welcomed the approval, underscoring its significance for the industry. Jan Pie, Secretary-General of ASD, stated: “We highly welcome today’s vote of the European Parliament in favour of the new College of EU Commissioners. With this, industry stakeholders have finally clarity about who will put upcoming and ongoing EU initiatives into practice that aim at bolstering Europe’s defence capabilities and strengthening industrial competitiveness.”
One of the association’s priorities is addressing regulatory challenges. Pie highlighted the need for streamlined processes, stating: “Our industry will be looking forward to the new Commission implementing a clear regulatory burden reduction target to simplify and remove overlap and inconsistencies of existing and new regulations.” He stressed that simplified regulations would provide much-needed support for industrial innovation and growth.
On defence, Pie urged the Commission and EU Member States to take immediate action, noting, “With regards to defence, it is clear that Europe must spend more, and we must spend better. The EU Commission can play a crucial role in supporting Member States in this endeavour.” He further emphasised the importance of aligning financial priorities with security needs: “It is high time that the EU’s financial priorities reflect the critical importance of the European defence industry for our security. This should also be stressed in the upcoming White Paper on the Future of European Defence.”
While Europe’s civil aeronautics sector is recovering from the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, it faces ongoing challenges. “Supply chain disruptions, shortages of critical raw materials, and rising energy costs continue to impact production and delivery schedules,” Pie explained. He added that global competition is intensifying, creating further pressures on the industry. To address these challenges, Pie called for a collaborative approach: “The entire aviation ecosystem must be included in the forthcoming Clean Industrial Deal because the sector is crucial to Europe’s resilience and competitiveness, and it is integral to Europe’s climate and sustainability goals.”
Pie also addressed the European space sector, which is navigating significant structural changes and evolving market dynamics. “Europe’s space industry is developing solutions to support the EU’s ambitions. However, it will need strong backing from the new Commission to deal with paradigm changes in commercial applications and the structural decrease of its key revenue markets,” he said.
The ASD expressed optimism about working with the new Commission to address these pressing issues. Pie concluded, “The challenges are substantial, but with decisive action and a collaborative approach, we can ensure that Europe’s aerospace, security, and defence industries remain competitive and resilient in the face of global and domestic pressures.”
