Adoption of new Directive brings defence and security procurement into the Single Market

2009 started with an important step forward for Europe’s defence market: On 14 January 2009, the European Parliament
adopted the Directive on Defence Procurement. Together with the Directive on intra-Community Transfers of Defence
Products, adopted last December, the new Procurement Directive constitutes the legal cornerstone of a truly European defence market.

The Defence Procurement Directive sets specific Community rules for an area which has up until now been excluded from European integration. With the adoption of this new Directive, defence and security markets are formally recognised to be “different”, but nevertheless part of the Single Market.