Simplifying EU rules for defence and sensitive security procurement: TI-DS submission to the review of the Defence and Sensitive Security Procurement Directive (2009/81/EC)
Europe’s accelerated defence investment and expanding joint procurement frameworks make the simplification of the EU’s Defence Procurement Directive (Directive 2009/81/EC) both urgent and strategic. Simplification, however, will only strengthen capability delivery and industrial resilience if accompanied by proportionate governance safeguards.
In our response to the European Commission’s call for evidence for an impact assessment to inform the revision of its regulatory framework for defence procurement, Transparency International Defence & Security proposes a set of practical, implementable measures to embed integrity-by-design into accelerated and sensitive procurement. These include:
- Strengthened lifecycle accountability (including structured governance of contract amendments);
- Operationalising proportional transparency through a defined minimum dataset and two-layer model;
- Risk-based safeguards for exceptional and accelerated procedures; and
- Clear accountability frameworks in multi-state procurement, including harmonised whistleblowing pathways.
Embedding accountability and predictability into simplification will help to ensure that increased defence spending translates into interoperable capability, supply-chain resilience, and a more competitive and trusted European defence market.
Read the submission paper to see our detailed recommendations.
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