Europe’s new defence agency

By the end of 2004 the EU should have a new defence 'capabilities agency'. The agency's initial impact on EU defence is likely to be small, but it could make a real difference in the medium to long run. The first job for the agency will be to pressure EU Member States to spend more on new military equipment and to build a more open and competitive European market for defence goods. The agency should also prod EU defence ministries to think more strategically about their long-term defence needs and encourage greater spending on defence research and development.