On May 12, as part of the DFNC: EU Edition forum in Brussels, the first meeting of the Ukraine–EU Working Group on Defense-Industrial Cooperation (Task Force) took place.
The initiative to establish the Working Group was outlined in the EU Defence Readiness White Paper 2030 and is a key element of the long-term strategy to deepen the defense partnership between Ukraine and the European Union.
The Working Group includes the following members:
From the Ukrainian side:
- Ministry for Strategic Industries of Ukraine (MSI);
- Ministry of Defense of Ukraine;
- Ministry of Digital Transformation;
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
- Office of the President of Ukraine;
- Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the EU.
From the EU side:
- European External Action Service (EEAS);
- Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space of the European Commission (DG DEFIS).
Other organizations, such as the European Defence Agency (EDA) or the European Union Military Staff (EUMS), may join the work as needed. Representatives of the defense industry may be invited to meetings on an ad-hoc basis.
The establishment of the Task Force is a practical step toward implementing the decisions outlined in the EU Defence Readiness White Paper 2030, as well as the key initiatives Rearm Europe and Rearm Ukraine.
The Working Group aims to:
- Deepen the integration of Ukraine’s defense industry into the European defense-technological ecosystem;
- Develop joint production and innovation projects;
- Coordinate efforts under the SAFE and EDIP programs;
- Leverage the SAFE Loans mechanism to finance orders involving Ukraine, enabling production scale-up and faster deliveries;
- Ensure systematic information exchange on capabilities, bottlenecks, and technologies;
- Utilize Ukraine’s combat experience to shape EU technology roadmaps.
The first meeting was attended by representatives of key Ukrainian institutions, including the Ministry for Strategic Industries, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Office of the President. The Ukrainian delegation was also supported by the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the EU. From the EU side, the European External Action Service, the European Commission's Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space, invited experts, and technical advisors participated in the discussions.
The meeting was chaired by David Aloyan, Deputy Minister for Strategic Industries of Ukraine, along with representatives of EEAS and DG DEFIS.
Within the framework of the Working Group, a permanent format for dialogue between Ukraine and the EU has been launched, aimed at swift coordination, cooperation, and synchronization of efforts.
During the meeting, a preliminary action plan was agreed upon, including preparations for the next meeting of the Working Group, which is scheduled for June 2025.
