EU Parliament greenlights AGILE defence innovation programme

The European Parliament’s security and defence (SEDE) and industry, research and energy (ITRE) committees approved a negotiating position for the AGILE programme – a €115 million, one‑year pilot aimed at accelerating the development, testing and deployment of defence technologies for 2027. The instrument targets small and medium‑sized enterprises, startups and scale‑ups, introducing fast‑track "sandbox" testing environments and tighter links between armed forces, innovators and industry. It also seeks to reduce reliance on critical components from third countries, ensure strong parliamentary oversight and provide a pathway for Ukraine to benefit from the technologies.

MEP Zeljka Zovko stressed that “Europe must be faster at developing, testing and applying defence innovations,” highlighting the programme’s relevance for Croatia’s strategic Adriatic infrastructure. MEP Tonino Picula added, “There is no sense to invest EU money in technologies that will never be bought and used,” and welcomed the focus on rapid operational uptake. The approval opens inter‑institutional negotiations with the Council and the European Commission, with the pilot expected to inform future, larger‑scale EU defence‑innovation instruments.