Integration Role of European Defense Procurement in Achieving a More Competitive and Stronger European Defense Equipment Market.

摘要

The creation of a strong and competitive European defense equipment market out of the 28 fragmented markets of the EU member states remains an important subject of discussion in transatlantic relations today. The increasing defense capability gap between Europe and the United States continues to raise many questions, including the issue of European dependency on U.S. defense capabilities and technologies. At the same time, the EU s decreasing military spending, in particular in the defense procurement and research and development areas, has been negatively affecting defense companies in Europe. To support the development of a competitive, competent, and capability-driven defense industry, the EU member states agreed to focus on the institutionalization of the European defense equipment market. The main focus of this study is how this institutionalization process contributes to the fostering of the defense market integration. Using qualitative analysis, I argue that the new regulation contributes little to the integration of the different national defense industries in Europe. Despite the publically expressed consensus for more collaboration in defense procurement, most member states continue to look for nationally driven decisions, rather than for a functioning European approach.