The Involvement of Third-Country Entities in EU Defence Industrial Policies and the “European Design Authority” Concept

Ever since the European Union (EU) extended its competences to the field of armaments, it has faced a persistent dilemma: how to involve (or not) entities from third countries in the programmes it has launched to support cooperation among its Member States? In particular, how should it include entities from NATO allies that are not EU members? Each time the EU introduces a new initiative in this area, the question inevitably resurfaces at the negotiating table, provoking intense debate.

This article examines how the concept of design authority has entered the discussion and analyses the challenges it raises. It also focuses on the new elements that the SAFE programme introduces regarding eligibility. Through SAFE, the EU could potentially involve third countries and their entities in its joint procurement schemes, provided they demonstrate strategic proximity to the EU. However, interested third countries would have to sign bilateral agreements with the EU to define the terms of association of their entities, as well as the standards applicable to the goods acquired and the guarantees to be provided in terms of security of supply.

At a time when the United States’ NATO and Asian allies are beset by uncertainty due to Donald Trump’s erratic policies, does the EU intend to extend its traditional normative influence to the armaments sector? And how does the notion of design authority fit into this picture?