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Responsibilities
The Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space (DG DEFIS) leads the European Commission’s activities in the European defence industry and European space sectors.
Under the leadership of Commissioner for Internal Market, Thierry Breton, DG DEFIS implements the Union’s Space Programme and ensures an innovative, and competitive defence industry.
- DG DEFIS' role in the European Defence industry
The Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space (DG-DEFIS) is the European Commission's department tasked with strengthening the competitiveness and innovation of the European Defence industry by ensuring the evolution of an able European defence technological and industrial base.
To do so, we enable investments to support defence supply chains, with a special attention on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). We also facilitate their involvement in cross-border partnerships through various tools such as the European Defence Fund (EDF).
Our work is guided by the recently published European Defence Industrial Strategy (EDIS) and is implemented through a set of programmes and initiatives.
- DG DEFIS' role in Space
The Commission's Directorate General for Defence Industry and Space (DG DEFIS) plays a pivotal role in the European Union Space Programme. Its activities include assessing current trends, identifying emerging challenges, and ensuring that the objectives of the Space Programme are aligned with broader EU priorities such as innovation, economic growth, and security.
DG DEFIS plays a crucial role in developing and enforcing the regulatory frameworks that govern space activities within the EU. This includes ensuring compliance with international treaties, licensing procedures, safety standards, and safeguarding security interests to promote responsible behaviour in space.
DG DEFIS also actively supports the growth and competitiveness of the European space industry. It does this by providing targeted incentives (with a special focus on SMEs), fostering collaboration between the public and private sectors, promoting technology transfers, and facilitating access to finance and markets. Furthermore, DG DEFIS seeks to enhance Europe's global influence by leveraging its resources and engaging with strategic stakeholders, partners and international organisations in international fora, where it promotes peaceful collaboration in the space domain.
Find out more on: Defence and Space
Plans and reports
Defence
- EDIS | Our Common Defence Industrial Strategy
- EDF | Developing tomorrow's defence capabilities
- EDIRPA | Procuring together defence capabilities
- ASAP | Boosting defence production
- EDIP | The future of defence
Space
- Copernicus | Earth Observation
- Galileo | Satellite Navigation
- EGNOS | Satellite Navigation
- IRIS² | Secure Connectivity
- SSA | Europe's eyes on Space
- CASSINI | Support to entrepreneurship
- Research, Development & Innovation
EU Aeronautics industry
Leadership and organisation
Contact
Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space
- Name
- Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space
- Phone number
- +32 2 299 11 11 (Commission switchboard)
- Postal address
European Commission Rue de la Loi 130/Wetstraat 130
1049 Bruxelles/Brussel
Belgium