Maturing projects for possible future European Defence Projects of Common Interest and preparing their implementation roadmap

Di cosa tratta questo bando?

The call funds coordination and support actions that help groups of EU Member States and EDIP associated countries mature defence projects not yet identified as EDPCIs. Funded projects prepare a consolidated EDPCI proposal and roadmaps for deployment in 2028-2034.

Cosa finanzia questo bando?

Objective

The topic supports collaborative projects that were proposed as possible European Defence Projects of Common Interest (EDPCI) but were not identified as such, so that they can mature towards a possible future EDPCI and prepare an implementation roadmap for 2028-2034. The actions are EDPCI Coordination and Support Actions under the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP), funded as a fixed lump sum not linked to costs.

Activities that can be funded

Activities support the maturation of the project and the preparation of future deployment, without financing the deployment itself. They include in particular:

• maturing the project within participating countries and the relevant priority capability area coordination groups
• aligning participating Member States and EDIP associated countries on scope, objectives and their respective roles, while considering additional participants where necessary
• designing cross-border cooperation frameworks and common governance arrangements
• supporting legal and organisational preparedness
• coordinating deployment sequencing and planning interoperability and industrial coordination
• preparing or procuring studies

Expected impact and deliverables

The activities must lead to a consolidated EDPCI project proposal and a roadmap for its future deployment. Actions are expected to support solid proposals for the next call for expression of interest in 2027 and to inform the Programme Committee's discussions on the next multiannual financial framework. A first implementation roadmap covering activities to be launched between 2028 and 2030 is due by the end of 2027, and the final roadmap covering activities up to 2034 by the end of 2030 at the latest. Each roadmap is a milestone worth 50% of the grant, and the outcome does not commit the Commission to identify the project as an EDPCI or to provide EU funding under the 2028-2034 framework.

Funding conditions

The grant is a lump sum fixed according to the number of participating Member States and EDIP associated countries involved or consulted. Payment depends on completing work packages and fully achieving the milestones; the grant may be reduced if a roadmap is not delivered or validated as expected. Separate work packages are needed for project management and coordination and for communication and dissemination. A design authority requirement applies, and financial support to third parties is not allowed.

Activities not eligible

Projects that do not implement the objectives of Article 4 of the EDIP Regulation, projects on defence products prohibited by international law, on lethal autonomous weapons outside a responsible chain of human command, or on cluster munitions or anti-personnel mines, projects already fully financed from other sources, projects completed before grant signature and projects started before 5 March 2024 are not eligible.

Quando scade il bando?

15 dicembre 2026 (40 giorni)

15 December 2026, 17:00 CET (Brussels time). Single-stage submission.