During the European Parliament’s plenary session currently underway in Strasbourg, a vote will be held on the report concerning the European Defense Industry Program (EDIP). In the debate preceding the vote, PiS MEP Michał Dworczyk emphasized the urgent need to strengthen European defense capabilities, especially in the countries on NATO’s eastern flank, which—as he noted—have borne the greatest burden in supporting Ukraine.
Michał Dworczyk pointed out that it is the countries on NATO’s eastern flank, including Poland, that have borne the greatest burden of supporting Ukraine; therefore, their needs should be at the center of EU efforts related to the reconstruction and expansion of defense industry production capacity.
“Europe needs a strong defense industry. Poland and the countries on the eastern flank know this best,” the MEP stated.
However, as he noted, while the current proposal for the program is an improvement over the original, it remains insufficient given the scale of the threats. Dworczyk highlighted the insufficient budget, as well as unclear eligibility rules, which could make it difficult for member states to take full advantage of the instrument. He emphasized that without transparent rules and the ability to cooperate with non-EU partners, the program’s effectiveness could be limited.
He also recalled the difficulties associated with negotiations regarding the SAFE instrument with the United Kingdom, which—in his view—demonstrated how challenging it can be to reach an agreement even with key NATO allies.
“EDIP is meant to strengthen our defense, not weaken transatlantic ties or relations with allies outside the EU,” the PiS politician noted.
The MEP stressed that support for the European defense industry is necessary, but it must take into account the diverse structure of this sector across individual member states. In his view, the EDIP should be open, flexible, and tailored to real needs, with particular attention to the countries on NATO’s eastern flank.
“It is precisely there that military pressure from Russia is greatest, and that is where concrete investments are needed most urgently,” he added.
Dworczyk concluded his remarks with a call to strengthen the EDIP so that it becomes an effective tool for building security across all of Europe, rather than a source of new barriers to key alliances.
