The EU Council of Ministers approved a draft administrative arrangement between the European Defence Agency (EDA) and the US Department of Defense (US DoD) on 6 February 2023.
According to a statement by the EDA, the aim of the agreement is to establish a framework for the exchange of information and the exploration of possibilities for co-operation between the EDA and the US DoD.
The administrative arrangement will allow for substantive defence dialogue on all topics within the EDA’s purview, as well as invitations for the US DoD to participate in relevant EDA Steering Committee meetings and vice versa.
According to the EDA, specific activities include consultations on chemical registration (such as the EU’s Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulations), military mobility, supply chain issues and the impact of climate change on defence.
Co-operation will also include participation in the open meetings of the European Defence Standardisation Committee. The agreement is expected to enter into force on the date of signature by the two parties.
Gerhard Heiming
