EUROPEAN DEFENSE ADVOCACY AND LOBBYING

Defense advocates are increasingly concentrating their efforts on EU officials and policy-makers. While lobbying activities have traditionally interested Member States; defense and security integration at the European level have progressively drawn attention of European defense companies.

European defense companies engage in lobbying both individually and collectively. Most of them have offices in Brussels and employ lobbyists with direct access to the European Parliament. Companies may also use consultancies and intermediaries that lobby on their behalf.

Defense  companies also gather in associations and groups that promote the interests of the industry as a whole e.g. Aerospace, Security and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD) which includes leading European companies, but also national industrial associations. ASD’s main role is to defend the interests of the industry by speaking on its behalf in EU institutional setting. ASD has great influence on the Commission.

The European Organization for Security (EOS) is another industry association that includes defense companies.

Either individually or collectively, defense companies are able to shape and participate in political initiatives through diverse lobbying channels. Defense and security fairs  constitute one. These events allow industrial players to meet EU officials and discuss policies. DSEI, Eurosatory and the Paris Air Show are some examples. Conferences provide a similar opportunity, playing a key role in establishing networks among policy-makers, lobby groups and think tanks.

Official meetings between defense companies and officials working in EU institutions and agencies constitute another channel. It is especially worth considering meetings between industrial representatives and Commission officials due to the latter’s efforts to shift defense and security from the national to the European level.  Support from the industry has given the Commission the power to assume a driving role in increasingly shifting defense to the European level. In turn it has allowed the industry to contribute to shaping the Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) while benefiting from EU funding provided by initiatives under this very framework. Overall, this has led to creation and progressive consolidation of a European defense technological and industrial complex which brings together institutions and agencies of the EU and the European defense industry.

National Security and Defense Industry Associations

ASD- Aerospace and Defence Industries Association of Europe. http: //www.asd-europe.org

Austria

• ADIG-Austrian Defence Industry Association https://www.wko.at/Content. Node/Mitarbeiterkontakt seite.html?rollenid=2591612
• AAI-Austrian Aeronautics Industries Group https://www.aaig.at

Belgium

• BDSI-Belgian Security & Defence Industry http://www.agoria.be

Bulgaria

• BDIA-Bulgarian Defence Industries Association http://www.bdia.bg.com/en

Croatia

• CDICC-Croatia Defence Industry Competitiveness Cluster http://hkkoi.hr/about-us 

Cyprus

• CCCI- Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry http://www.cci.org.cy

Czech Republic

• DSIA-Defence and Security Industry Association of the Czech Republic http://www.aobp.cz/english/home-page
• ALV-Association of the Aerospace Manufacturers http://alv.cr.cze/DeFault.aspx?l=en

Denmark

• FAD- Danish Defence and Security Industries Association http://www.fad.di.dk

Estonia

• Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry http://www.koda.ee/en
• EDIA- Estonian Defence Industry Association http://www.defence.ee/

Finland

• AFDA- Association of Finnish Defence & Aerospace Industrieshttp://teknologiateollisuus.fi/en

France

• GIFAS- French Aerospace Industries Association (Groupement des Industries Françaises Aéronautiques et Spatiales) https://www.gifas.asso.fr
• GICAN- Groupement des Industries de Construction et Activités Navales http://www.gican.asso.fr
• GICAT- Groupement des Industries Françaises de Défence Terrestre http://www.gicat.com/fr

Germany

• BDSV-Federation of German Security and Defence Industries http://www.bdsv.eu/en/Home.htm
• BDLI- German Aerospace Industries Association (Bundesverband der Deutschen Luft-und Raumfahrtindustrie e.V.) http://www.bdli.de/en/

Greece

• SEKPY- Hellenic Manufacturers of Defence Material Association http://www.sekpy.gr
• HASDIG- Hellenic Aerospace & Defence Industries Group http://aerospace-defense.gr/www.hasdig.com.gr

Hungary

• Defence Industry Association of Hungary http://vedelmiipar.hu

Ireland

• FAEI- Federation of Aerospace Enterprises in Ireland http://www.faei.ie/Sectors/FAEI/FAEI.nsf/vPages/Home?Open Document

Italy

• AIAD- Italian Industries Federation for Aerospace, Defence and Securityhttp://www.aiad.it/homepage.wp
• AIPAS- Association of Italian Space Companies (SMEs) http://www.aipas.it/aipas_en/index_eng_opera.html

Latvia

• FSDI- Federation of Security and Defence Industries of Latvia http://federacija.lv/en

Lithuania

• LDSIA- Lithuanian Defence and Security Industries Association http://www.lgspa/lt/index.php/eu/

Malta

• Malta Enterprise http://www.maltaenterprise.com/en

Netherlands

• NIDV- Netherlands Industries for Defence and Security (NIDV) http://www.nidv.eu/

Norway

• FSI- Norwegian Defence and Security Industries Association http://www.fsi.no/eng/

Poland

• Polish Chamber of National Defence Manufacturers http://www.przmysel-pbronny.pl./en/
• APAI- Association of Polish Aviation Industry http://www.spl.org.pl/en

Portugal

• DANOTEC- Associaçao das Empresas de Defesa Armamento e Novas http://www.danotec.pt/index.html
• PROESPACO- Portuguese Association of Space Industries http://www.proespaco.pt/eng/index.html

Romania

• OPIAR- Association of Romanian Aeronautical Companies
• PATROMIL- The Romanian Business Association of the Military Technique Manufacturers

Slovakia

• ADISR- Association of Defence Industry of the Slovak Republic

Slovenia

• CCIS-Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia

Spain

• TEDAE-Spanish Association of Defence, Aeronautics, Security and Space Technology Companies http://english.tedae.org
• AESMIDE- Association of Defence Suppliers Companies http://www.aesmide.es/

Sweden

• SOFF- Association of Swedish Defence Industries (Säkerhets & Försvars Företagen) Swedish Security and Defence Association

Turkey

• SASAD- Turkish Defence and Aerospace Industry Manufacturers Association

United Kingdom

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