The Defence Readiness Omnibus: Europe’s Constitutional Stress Test for Defence-Industrial Integration

The Defence Readiness Omnibus is not simply a simplification package for the European defence industry. It is a test of whether the European Union can turn defence readiness into a coherent industrial and regulatory architecture.

The central issue is not only whether Europe will spend more, but whether higher defence expenditure will create a more integrated European market or reinforce a set of nationally protected industrial systems. Eligibility rules, “Buy European” criteria, Article 346 TFEU, national investment-screening regimes and Golden Power-type controls now sit at the centre of this question.

This analysis answers: How does the Defence Readiness Omnibus attempt to turn defence readiness into a coherent industrial and regulatory architecture? How do eligibility rules, 'Buy European' criteria and Article 346 TFEU interact with the internal market? How do national investment-screening regimes and Golden Power-type controls create merger stress tests? What are the consequences for legal advisers, corporate development teams, banks and policymakers?