Key points: The EESC strongly recommends that the Member States and the European Commission use the EDF to keep key industrial capabilities on European soil and to ensure that European money is spent on European R&D and on buying European weapons systems. The EESC supports the competitiveness-driven approach of the EDF, which will both ensure access for all Member States and finance projects that will produce added value and technologies. The EESC appreciates the special attention that the current proposal gives to SMEs, no matter what country they come from. The EESC would also welcome SME involvement mechanisms, such as a bonus system, that would enhance SMEs' cross-border cooperation. The EESC is of the firm belief that it is necessary to build up strong key capabilities that support European interests. The EESC recommends that the awarding process for calls for proposals take into account mandatory high social and environmental standards. The EESC considers that the governance of the EDF must be established as soon as possible and should include the European Union, the European Defence Agency and the Member States, as well as industry. The EESC recommends exploring the possibility of increasing the minimum number of countries participating in an eligible project to as the EDF programme evolves. The EESC recommends that it should be possible to make use of training programmes by the European in the early stages of the development of projects funded under the capability window. Contact: Adam Plezer (Tel. 00 32 2 546 8628 - e-mail: ) Transport Statistics on rail transport (recast) Rapporteur: Raymond Hencks (Workers - LU) Reference: COM(2017) 353 final - 2017/0146 (COD) EESC-2017-04449-00-00-AC-TRA Key points:
Key points: The EESC strongly recommends that the Member States and the European Commission use the EDF to keep key industrial capabilities on European soil and to ensure that European money is spent on European R&D and on buying European weapons systems. The EESC supports the competitiveness-driven approach of the EDF, which will both ensure access for all Member States and finance projects that will produce added value and technologies. The EESC appreciates the special attention that the current proposal gives to SMEs, no matter what country they come from. The EESC would also welcome SME involvement mechanisms, such as a bonus system, that would enhance SMEs' cross-border cooperation. The EESC is of the firm belief that it is necessary to build up strong key capabilities that support European interests. The EESC recommends that the awarding process for calls for proposals take into account mandatory high social and environmental standards. The EESC considers that the governance of the EDF must be established as soon as possible and should include the European Union, the European Defence Agency and the Member States, as well as industry. The EESC recommends exploring the possibility of increasing the minimum number of countries participating in an eligible project to as the EDF programme evolves. The EESC recommends that it should be possible to make use of training programmes by the European in the early stages of the development of projects funded under the capability window. Contact: Adam Plezer (Tel. 00 32 2 546 8628 - e-mail: ) Transport Statistics on rail transport (recast) Rapporteur: Raymond Hencks (Workers - LU) Reference: COM(2017) 353 final - 2017/0146 (COD) EESC-2017-04449-00-00-AC-TRA Key points:
eesc-2017-05092-00-02-tcd-tra-en.docx