The European Defence Industry Programme: European Defence Projects of Common Interest (EDPCI)

Europe needs large, interoperable defence capabilities that no single country can develop efficiently on its own. The European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP) , adopted by the Council of the European Union on 7 November 2025 ( Council document 14814/25 ), answers this need by creating the European Defence Projects of Common Interest (EDPCI) . EDPCIs are the Union’s new flagship projects: multinational, strategically selected, and equipped with clear governance and dedicated financing. They are designed to move Europe from fragmented national initiatives to coordinated programmes that deliver critical capabilities at scale, while strengthening the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB). The legal framework is set out in Chapter IIb , notably Article 21i , with the Council playing the key political role in identification and steering. Selection logic and governance. EDPCIs are not ordinary projects: they are chosen for their strategic value and for the benefits they bring to the Union as a whole. The Council , acting by qualified majority upon a proposal from the Commission , adopts implementing acts to identify EDPCIs, after a structured consultation with all Member States ( Article 21i(4), (6), (8) ).