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seat when deciding on which technologies and assets
to invest in, and will retain ownership of the defence
capabilities.
In the context of the Action Plan, the Commission proposes a
European Defence Fund which would include two “windows”
which are complementary but different in their legal structure
and budget sourcing.
The “research window” would fund collaborative research in
innovative and strategic defence technologies. The Commission
has already proposed EUR 25 million for defence research as part
of the 2017 EU Budget and expects that this allocation could
grow to a total of EUR 90 million until 2020. Under the post-2020
EU multiannual financial framework, the Commission intends
to propose a dedicated defence research programme with an
estimated amount of EUR 500 million per year The “capability
window” would act as a financial tool allowing participating
Member States to purchase certain assets together to reduce
their costs. This window should be able to mobilise about EUR 5
billion per year.
The European Defence Action Plan also proposes to foster
investments in SMEs, start-ups, mid-caps and other suppliers
to the defence industry and to strengthen the Single Market
for defence. It will foster the competitiveness of the European
defence industry.
Over the last decade EU Member States have decreased defence
spending by nearly 12% in real terms, but this has not been
compensated by more European cooperation. The lack of
cooperation between Member States in the field of defence and
security is estimated tocost annually between EUR 25 billion and
EUR 100 billion More Europe in defence will have a positive spill-
over effect on the European economy. The European defence
industry generates a total turnover of €100 billion per year and
1.4 million highly skilled peopled directly or indirectly employed
in Europe. Each euro invested in defence generates a return of
1,6, in particular in skilled employment, research and technology
and exports.
The European Commission today presents a package of measures
to keep the European Union competitive as the clean energy
transition is changing the global energy markets.
The European Commission wants the EU to lead the clean energy
transition, not only to adapt to it. For this reason the EU has
committed to cut CO2 emissions by at least 40% by 2030 while
modernising the EU’s economy and delivering on jobs and growth
for all European citizens.
Today’s proposals have three main goals:
putting energy efficiency first, achieving global leadership in
renewable energies, and providing a fair deal for consumers.
Consumers are active and central players on the energy markets
of the future. Consumers across the EU will in the future
have a better choice of supply, access to reliable energy price
comparison tools and the possibility to produce and sell their
own electricity. Increased transparency and better regulation give
more opportunities for civil society to become more involved in
the energy system and respond to price signals. The package
also contains a number of measures aimed at protecting the most
vulnerable consumers.
The Clean Energy for All Europeans legislative proposals cover
energy efficiency, renewable energy, the design of the electricity
market, security of electricity supply and governance rules for the
Energy Union. In addition the Commission proposes a new way
forward for Ecodesign as well as a strategy for connected and
automated mobility.
The package also includes actions to accelerate clean energy
innovation and to renovate Europe’s buildings. It provides
measures to encourage public and private investment, promote
EU industrial competitiveness and mitigate the societal impact of
the clean energy transition. We are also exploring ways in which
the EU can show further leadership in clean energy technology
and services to help third countries achieve their policy goals.
BAE Systems has teamed up with NFU Mutual to provide
the insurance firm and its customers with comprehensive
protection across underwriting, claims and financial crime
services.
The contract will commence in 2017 and see BAE Systems’
financial crime division provide NFU Mutual with a counter
NFU Mutual selects BAE Systems to safeguard against fraud
fraud solution that will detect and prevent financial crime
throughout the customer lifecycle and across the business.
The partnership will enable NFU Mutual to exploit external
and internal data sources to accurately identify fraudsters
at the point of sale and point of claim, whilst ensuring
customers are fast-tracked through the policy
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