François Arbault

Director Defence industrial programmes @EU_Commission, Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space │ DG DEFIS @defis_eu Views personal, RT ≠ endorsement

[Andrius Kubilius @KubiliusA]

Today we sign 1st #SAFE agreement - w Poland.

With 43.7 bln € 🇵🇱 starts the biggest security 'project' in Europe.

We are moving fast to help 🇪🇺 Member States jointly develop & scale up their defence capabilities & production.

SAFE loans will help outproduce & deter Russia.

[Andrius Kubilius @KubiliusA]

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🇪🇺 @EU_Commission loans and simplification will help our industry meet NATO targets.

But we must move faster—our adversaries are not idle.

#MissileTour
#ProtectWhatMatters
#EUDefence

[Andrius Kubilius @KubiliusA]

In France, with Ministers @benjaminhaddad and @RufoAlice visiting @MBDAFrance and @SafranElecDef 🇫🇷

European defence industry has extraordinary potential to help defend Europe and Ukraine.

Defence production is ramping up.

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[Andrius Kubilius @KubiliusA]

Learn more about the #EDF 2025 call results
⬇️
https://t.co/CVSqz0A6BG

[François Arbault @ArbaultF]

Have a look also at the individual project fiches where we present all that you need to know about them !

[François Arbault @ArbaultF]

Another promising 'millésime' of our European Defence Fund was released on 15 April ! 57 new projects adding-up to our already impressive portfolio, and another €1 billion invested in collaborative defence R&D across the European Defence Technological and Industrial base.

[Andrius Kubilius @KubiliusA]

🇪🇺 Big milestone for European defence.

#EDIP is here⬇️
€1.5bn to boost defence capacity in Europe & Ukraine, scale up joint procurement, and reduce fragmentation.

This is how Europe steps up, faster and more united.

Calls open from 26 March: https://t.co/xcRR8wb6qG
#EUDefence

[Ursula von der Leyen @vonderleyen]

Australia is one of the world’s most important producers of critical raw material.

In contrast, Europe is one of the world’s major users.

So today, we agreed on four major projects, covering production of rare earths, lithium, and tungsten.

And we also agreed to launch negotiations on Australia’s accession to Horizon, Europe’s flagship innovation programme!

[Andrius Kubilius @KubiliusA]

Europe’s defence readiness in action.

France 🇫🇷 & the Czech Republic 🇨🇿 advance under #SAFE 🇪🇺

Scaling defence industry, boosting resilience, delivering faster.

Next: Council approval to unlock funding support.

🔗 #SAFE https://t.co/6VWjdLkMWs

[François Arbault @ArbaultF]

« Innovate in the way we boost and fund defence innovation » : one of the Commission’s steady objectives, even more so since we learnt from the brave Ukrainians that tireless innovation and ingenuity is also also way for Europeans to achieve defence readiness.

[Andrius Kubilius @KubiliusA]

We need to be ready to win the wars of tomorrow: to adapt - very quickly, to ramp up production - immediately.

We need to be smarter & quicker than our adversaries.

SMEs & startups can help if we ‘boost’ them with speedy support - the proposed #AGILE programme is exactly that!

[François Arbault @ArbaultF]

‘AGILE’: the proposed name of the new programme proposed today by Commissioner Andrius Kubilius and the Commission to encourage fast, disruptive, short term results-oriented innovation!

[Andrius Kubilius @KubiliusA]

Today we propose a “booster” for innovative SMEs & scale-ups —#AGILE:

✅€115M to scale up innovation
✅Faster funding
✅Grants in just 4 months
✅High-risk, high-impact projects
✅Full integration of Ukraine 🇺🇦

Our militaries need more disruptive low-cost solutions!

[Andrius Kubilius @KubiliusA]

I had a call with new 🇺🇦Defence Minister @FedorovMykhailo

I am sure 🇺🇦will win, 🇺🇦 army will be the strongest & most innovative on the continent!

I am committed to help.

Today @EU_Commission adopted €90 bln Ukraine Loan Support instrument to mostly fund 🇺🇦 military needs!

[Ursula von der Leyen @vonderleyen]

We all want peace for Ukraine.

For this, Ukraine must be in a position of strength.

Today we table our proposal for a €90 billion loan for 2026 and 2027.

For a strong Ukraine on the battlefield and at the negotiating table ↓ https://t.co/M3ApIz9GuH

[António Costa @eucopresident]

Your dignity honors the bravery of the Ukrainian people.

Be strong, be brave, be fearless. You are never alone, dear President @ZelenskyyUa.

We will continue working with you for a just and lasting peace.

[Ursula von der Leyen @vonderleyen]

Your dignity honors the bravery of the Ukrainian people.

Be strong, be brave, be fearless.
You are never alone, dear President @ZelenskyyUa.

We will continue working with you for a just and lasting peace.

[Ursula von der Leyen @vonderleyen]

We need a surge in 🇪🇺 defence spending.

Europe must bring more to the table.

I will propose to activate the escape clause for defence investments.

It will allow Member States to substantially increase their defence expenditure, in a controlled and conditional way.

[François Arbault @ArbaultF]

Let’s start with a big BAMM! 💥Today we launched a new innovation to support defence innovation. The Business Acceleration and Match Making services. Because we need to accelerate accompanying EU innovators developing their ideas for new defence technologies. #EUDIS

[EU Defence and Space @defis_eu]

📢 We have launched today our EUDIS Business Accelerator and Matchmaking Programme for Defence technology founders in the 🇪🇺 and 🇳🇴!

This programme features two key services ⤵️

[EU Defence and Space @defis_eu]

📌 EUDIS Business Accelerator, will provide comprehensive support to:
✅ 20 companies, over an 8-month acceleration period ✅ 6 onsite Bootcamps.
📌EUDIS Matchmaking
✅online and in-person matchmaking events organized throughout the matchmaking programme

[EU Defence and Space @defis_eu]

💡Learn more:
https://t.co/WT0HN5eTwR

[EU Defence and Space @defis_eu]

Last week at @TechChill we offered two masterclasses that focused on the vast number of opportunities the EU provides to innovators and investors in the area of defence technologies.

The participants got the chance to hear more about:

🛡️Defence Equity Facility
🛡️European Defence Fund and EUDIS, our innovation scheme.