Európska obranná pripravenosť 2030

 supports a strong EU defence budget, based on additional resources alongside an integrated EU defence market and better coordination of national orders; notes that cohesion policy can support the defence industry if it contributes to regional job creation and economic growth, in line with its core mission, and calls for further strengthening the synergies between cohesion policy and defence objectives;

 believes that particular attention should be paid to external border regions, and supports the extension of initiatives – such as the Eastern Border Shield – that protect the EU’s borders; also calls for local and regional authorities in border regions at risk of aggression to receive specific support, including in particular specific funding instruments, to increase their preparedness and adapt their socio-economic infrastructures and policies;

 stresses the importance of supporting dual-use technologies within defence investment, strengthening the defence sector, creating spill-over benefits for civilian sectors, promoting cooperation between the public sector, technology companies and research centres, making full use of the disruptive developments of start-ups and enabling innovation in regions without traditional defence industries;

 contends that the EUR 150 billion in loans made possible by the EU budget to strengthen the EU defence industry must benefit first and foremost EU Member States and Ukraine, and that this EU financial tool must include at least two Member States;

 further requests that to respect the spirit of SAFE and the final objective of the EU defence readiness package of leveraging up to EUR 800 billion for EU defence, European preference must be more prominent in the SAFE criteria, with a requirement of at least 70% of the cost of components originating in the EU being part of the final end product – with the design authority being in the EU;

 emphasises that EU funding must be conditional on full respect for the rule of law, democracy and human rights, both for Member States and third-country beneficiaries.