New EU Member States Benefit From European Defence Equipment Market

, BRUSSELS: The European Defence Agency today hosted a workshop bringing together National Armaments Directors and officials from countries which joined the European Union in 2004 and Romania and Bulgaria with representatives of the European defence companies which often act as prime contractors for major defence equipment purchases. 
 
The aim of the workshop was to support the new Member States whose defence industries have to undergo a significant transformation so that they can better integrate into the new European Defence Equipment Market. 
 
Specifically, it aimed to help contractors and small and medium-sized enterprises from those countries to find future business opportunities, particularly with the established major European prime contractors and first tier suppliers, and to become more competitive. There was also a discussion about how to ensure that specialist competencies from across Europe are included in the future Defence Technological and Industrial Base. 
 
The meeting was part of the EDA