Defence procurement

Background - Defence

In November 2000, the European Commission organized a large conference on the topic 'European Defence Procurement in the 21st Century: Improving Efficiency and Enhancing Competitiveness; the Role of Standardization', recognising that standardization is one of the facets to improve the competitiveness of the European Defence Industry. CEN was invited to support the creation of a European Handbook. 

On 3 November 2003, the Council of the European Union passed a Council Resolution (6953/03) on 'standardisation in the field of armaments'. It encouraged the Commission to pursue the work within CEN and to continue to finance the Handbook project (over future phases) provided that the views of Member States are incorporated in the work.

The Commission's communication EC COM (2003) 113 final (11 March) on 'European Defence - industrial and market issues - Towards an EU Defence Equipment Policy', stressed the urgency and importance of action in standardization, in particular with the help of CEN. 

The EC Green Paper on Defence procurement COM(2004)608 final (19 July 2004) stressed that technical specifications are often very detailed and based on widely differing standards.

The Defence Procurement Directive 2009/81/EC applies specifically to the procurement of arms, munitions and war material, as well as related works and services within the European Union. At the same time, Member States could also use it for certain particularly sensitive non-military procurements in areas such as protection against terrorism, where contracts often have similar features to defence contracts. Procurement of non-sensitive and non-military equipment are still covered by the current Public Procurement Directive 2004/18/EC, even if it is procured by awarding authorities in the field of defence and security.

The proposed Defence Procurement Directive – like the general Procurement Directive 2004/18/EC – applies subject to Articles 296 and 346 of the Treaty, which means that Member States can still exempt defence and security contracts if this is necessary for the protection of their essential security interests.

CEN's response, coordination and monitoring

• JWG 'Standardization for Defence Procurement'
  Based on the consensus obtained in the Conference of November 2000 and requested by the EC services, CEN created in January 2001 the BT Working Group 125 (BT/WG 125), reporting to the CEN Technical Board (BT).

In Spring 2010, the Technical Boards of CEN and CENELEC have replaced that group by a Joint CEN-CENELEC Working Group, which is a Stakeholder Forum for Defence Procurement Standardization. 

Work programme

• CEN Workshop 10 'Standardization for Defence Procurement - European Handbook
  BT/WG 125 endorsed the setting up of CEN Workshop 10 (started in 2002, now in Phase III).
  
• Access to the European Handbook for Defence Procurement (EHDP)
  This Handbook contains references to standards and standard-like specifications commonly used to support defence procurement contracts, as well as guidance on the selection of standards and standard-like specifications to optimise effectiveness, efficiency and interoperability.