Estonian Parliament supports European Union defence innovation programme

TALLINN – The European Union Affairs Committee of the Estonian Parliament has approved the country's stance on a new EU pilot programme that will allocate an additional 115 million euros to accelerate defence innovation starting next year.

Committee chairman Peeter Tali said that Estonia supports the objectives of the 'Agile' programme, such as accelerating innovation cycles in the defence sector, developing breakthrough and cost-effective technologies, and enhancing the role of smaller companies in defence innovation.

"While 115 million euros is not a huge sum, it's a start, and it's going to the right place. It's positive that the initiative encourages cooperation between smaller companies and large defence industry corporations, and promotes manufacturing within the European Union to grow our independent production capacity in the defence sector. This is undoubtedly necessary for strengthening European security and is also very beneficial for Estonian defence industry companies," Tali said. "The EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, and the Commissioner for Defence and Space, Andrius Kubilius, have done and are doing good work."

The position paper states that Estonia supports the adoption of new technologies and innovation in the defence sector. The country also supports the continuation of the programme into the next EU budget period. Estonia believes the programme should support solutions based on the defence needs of the countries on Europe's eastern flank and the lessons learned from Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. Furthermore, Estonia holds the view that Ukrainian companies should also be eligible to apply.

The government's positions on the creation of the EU's 'Agile' defence innovation programme were presented at the meeting by Miiko Peris, head of the defence industry development department at the Ministry of Defence. The European Union Affairs Committee unanimously approved the positions, in line with the opinion of the National Defence Committee.