<h6><strong>Eduardo González</strong></h6> <h4><strong>The People’s Parliamentary Group in Congress has presented a non-legislative motion in which the Government is urged to draw up a National Plan that allows the implementation of the recommendations of Mario Draghi, former president of the European Central Bank, to strengthen the defence industry in Europe.</strong></h4> The text, presented on 31 January for debate in the Joint Commission for the European Union, recalls that, in September 2024, Mario Draghi presented to the European Commission a report entitled 'The future of European competitiveness', in which he addresses the state of EU competitiveness in various strategic sectors and proposes a series of measures to modernise the European defence industry. The document, the PP continues, warns that “the fragmentation of the sector and the lack of coordination between the Member States make it difficult to develop a competitive and self-sufficient industry” in terms of defence. In this sense, it identifies “the atomisation of the defence industry in Europe as one of the greatest obstacles to achieving a solid and competitive defence industrial base at a global level”. An exception to this trend is “the success of Airbus, a consortium that employs thousands of Europeans and has a significant military aspect”, but “in sectors such as naval and land the industry remains fragmented”. Added to this is the dependence on raw materials, technologies and crucial components such as chips, which “limits the competitiveness of the European industry compared to other global powers”, and the lack of an adequate financing framework and “the excessive bureaucracy that limits the operation and growth of the sector”. “Instead of depending on foreign suppliers, Draghi suggests that the EU should encourage the purchase of European products”, highlights the PP. <h5><strong>Polish Presidency and Spanish industry</strong></h5> In addition, the programme presented by the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the first half of 2025 also highlights “the importance of strengthening the security and defence of Europe in the face of the imminent risks it may have to face”. To this end, it proposes a series of recommendations that “outline a roadmap towards an integrated, competitive and autonomous European defence industry” and that “form a solid basis for the EU to move towards a unified and resilient defence industry, improving its capacity to act jointly and optimising its resources”. In the case of Spain, the People’s Group points out, “compliance with these recommendations can mean greater integration of its defence industry in the European value chain, as well as development and employment opportunities”. “The report is particularly relevant for Spain, as we have a long history in the defence sector and a strong industrial potential that can still be optimised”, the PP continues. “Therefore, the Spanish defence industry plays a significant role in key areas, including the naval, land and aeronautical sectors, areas of opportunity highlighted in the report,” it adds. “Examples such as Spain's participation in Airbus highlight the success of European collaboration and, at the same time, show Spain's potential to lead and strengthen the defence industry in Europe,” warns the PP. “Given its industrial capacity, Spain is well positioned to assume a leadership role in the implementation of these recommendations,” which “would position our country as one of the central actors in the construction of a more autonomous and competitive Europe in terms of defence,” it adds. <h5><strong>National Plan</strong></h5> Therefore, the PP considers that “the implementation of a National Plan that supports these recommendations is a strategic necessity for Spain, both for its direct impact on the competitiveness of its defence industry and for its contribution to the security of the EU as a whole”. In short, the motion urges the Government to “draw up a National Plan that includes the analysis and, where appropriate, implementation of the objectives of the Draghi report in the field of defence” and to present to the Joint Commission for the European Union “an annual report monitoring and evaluating the impact of the measures of the Draghi report on the Spanish defence industry and its integration into the value chain within the EU”. The text also invites to promote collaboration between Spanish and European defence companies, especially in strategic sectors, such as naval and land, and to draw up a roadmap for the creation of an internal market for the purchase and sale of defence products of European origin, “prioritising those that strengthen the Spanish industry”. Finally, it calls on the Executive to “collectively reach two percent of GDP by 2025” for defence spending among Member States.
