What changed between the plenary report and the adopted text

Added:(11) There is a pressing need to reduce the complexity and duration of permit-granting processes for defence readiness projects, while ensuring that such processes are accessible to mid-caps, small mid-caps and SMEs contributing to the development of new and emerging defence technologies.

Removed:Recital 12 a (new): (12a) In Member States with a federal or otherwise decentralised administrative structure, or where regional or local authorities are required to be involved in the approval process or to adopt the relevant decisions, the functions of the single point of contact may be exercised through a coordinating structure involving regional or local authorities, provided that it is ensured that project promoters have one clearly identified interface for each project, and that that interface is coordinated and streamlined. Member States should make best efforts to ensure that project promoters, in particular SMEs and small mid-caps, can easily identify and access the competent single point of contact for their specific project. Flexibility should be ensured to allow several competent authorities to operate as single points of contact where necessary, provided that clear coordination mechanisms are in place and that project promoters have one clearly identified coordinating authority acting as the sole interface for each project. Such arrangements should avoid duplication or fragmentation of procedures and preserve the efficiency and purpose of the single-point-of-contact system.

Added:(12) In situations of supply chain crisis, uncertainty can hinder timely decisions and investment planning. Member States are encouraged to share relevant information on supply chain risks and bottlenecks through established Union frameworks for defence cooperation, in order to support efficient resource allocation and strengthen the Union's defence readiness, in full compliance with national security and confidentiality requirements.

Removed:Recital 14: (14) Furthermore, Member States should provide the necessary administrative support to defence readiness projects located on their territory, to facilitate their timely and effective implementation, paying particular attention to the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises which often face higher relative compliance costs and limited administrative capacity. To that end, the single point of contact should include dedicated support functions for SMEs and midcaps, such as helpdesks, harmonised templates and digital tools, offering clear guidance on documentation and compliance requirements and assistance throughout the permit-granting process, so that smaller actors can participate effectively and without disproportionate administrative burden.

Added:(13) In order to address the challenges identified, it is important that economic operators active in the field of defence ▌benefit from rules proven to be effective in streamlining industrial permit-granting processes, reducing deadlines for granting permits for defence industry activities, including for the construction of new plants and related infrastructure, the expansion of existing facilities, the establishment of testing sites, training, certifying and research and development, including the construction of prototypes and transfer of technology, while also building on and broadening existing applicable provisions.

Removed:Recital 14 a (new): (14a) To ensure effective, transparent and comparable implementation, the performance of single points of contact should be assessed through common Union-wide indicators and data collected to be submitted by each Member State to the Commission annually.

Added:(14) To ensure that a streamlined permit-granting process covers the whole defence value chain, the concept of defence industry should include not only undertakings manufacturing defence-related products as defined in Directive 2009/43/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, but also undertakings providing services that directly relate to those products. Furthermore, to address the principal bottlenecks in defence investments, the permit-granting process under this Regulation should cover all relevant permits, including approvals or licences required to build, expand, convert and operate defence readiness projects or to repurpose installations, equipment or activities for the manufacturing of defence products or components, or for other activities forming part of a defence readiness project. Bringing the granting of such permits into a single, coordinated and time-bound procedure, from the confirmation of whether the permit application is complete to the notification of the comprehensive decision by the single point of contact, reduces fragmentation, shortens procedural timelines and enhances legal certainty.

Removed:Recital 14 b (new): (14b) Transparency and equal access to information are crucial for the effective implementation of permit-granting processes. Member States should ensure that all project promoters, regardless of their Member State of establishment, have support and equal access to centralised, easily accessible online information. This includes details on single points of contact, permit-granting procedures, dispute resolution mechanisms, financing and investment services, and available Union or national funding instruments.

Added:(15) Complying with Union law, including in relation to waste management and to the protection of water, air, ecosystems, habitats, archaeological sites and biodiversity ▌, is integral to permit-granting procedures, also for the defence sector. Such rules are an essential safeguard to ensure negative impact is prevented or minimised. However, to ensure that permit-granting processes for defence readiness projects are predictable and timely, any potential to streamline the required assessments and authorisations while not lowering the level of, for instance, environmental protection, should be realised. In that regard, it should be ensured that the necessary assessments are bundled to prevent unnecessary overlap.

Removed:Recital 14 c (new): (14c) To avoid the proliferation of uncoordinated administrative platforms, Member States should design digital tools supporting this Regulation that are interoperable in order to allow for reusing information already submitted under other Union or national procedures and offer a single, user-friendly digital interface, particularly benefiting SMEs and mid-caps.

Added:(16) Each Member State should, in light of its administrative organisation and defence and national security needs, determine upon receipt of a complete permit application, whether a project located on its territory qualifies as a defence readiness project.

Removed:Recital 15: (15) The Commission should, upon request by a Member State offer capacity-building support to the single point of contact, including technical assistance, training, monitoring and evaluation, with the aim of developing and strengthening the abilities, processes and resources that the single points of contacts need to develop for the purposes of this Regulation. Such support may be requested by Member States and will fall within the scope of supporting actions under Regulation (EU) 20XX/XXXX on the European Defence Industry Programme [reference to be added once EDIP is adopted].

Added:(17) Member States should ensure that permit-granting and assessment procedures required under national law are organised in a coordinated manner that complements those required under Union law, avoiding overlap, duplication and unnecessary administrative delays, while maintaining a high level of environmental protection.

Removed:Recital 17: (17) In order to provide project promoters and other investors with the security and clarity needed to increase development of defence readiness projects, Member States should ensure that the permit-granting process related to such projects does not exceed set time limits. Completion within those time limits should take the form of a reasoned, written decision, whether granting or refusing the relevant permit, - notified by the single point of contact to the project promoter.

Added:(18) To safeguard trust in the simplification of administrative processes, accelerated procedures and the internal market, it is important that the single points of contact and all competent national authorities involved in the permit-granting process be impartial and uphold the principles of fair competition, transparency of decision-making, publication of non-confidential statistics on permit decisions and non-discrimination including as regards the access for SMEs and companies of all sizes across the Union.

Removed:Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1: (1) ‘defence readiness project’ means set of activities, investments and measures or measures primarily intended to enhance the defence readiness of a Member State or several Member States jointly, including through the development or modernisation of the defence industry;

Added:(19) To facilitate the efficient and timely processing of permit applications related to defence readiness activities and the scaling up of defence production, Member States should ensure that the competent national authorities implement accelerated procedures. Those authorities should provide the most rapid legal treatment possible for such permit applications, thereby enabling timely responses to defence readiness needs.

Removed:Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2: (2) ‘defence industry’ means all undertakings engaged in the development, production, and manufacture or supply of defence-related products as defined in Article 3(1) of Directive 2009/43/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council 6 or in the provision of services that enhance the defence readiness of one or several Member States;

Added:(20) Establishing a single point of contact for applications regarding permits related to defence activities is intended to streamline communication, clarify responsibilities, reduce administrative burden and further expedite the permit-granting process with clear and legally binding deadlines, thereby providing an efficient pathway for defence-related applications. Moreover, it will provide certainty to investors by ensuring the rapid treatment of permit applications and limiting the risks to investments related to lengthy procedures ▌.

Removed:Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3: (3) ‘defence readiness’ means the state of preparedness of a Member State or several Member States to anticipate, prevent or respond to a crisis as defined in Article 1, point (10) of Directive 2009/81/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council 7 , which relates to defence;

Added:(21) Member States should be able, when necessary to reflect their decentralised administrative organisation, to choose whether to establish or designate their single points of contact at local, regional or national level, or at any other relevant administrative level. Member States should ensure that effective coordination mechanisms are established and that that single point of contact acts as the sole interface for each project. Moreover, the relevant competent authorities should specify and make available to the single point of contact the requirements and extent of information requested of a project promoter before the permit-granting process commences. The single point of contact should be responsible for communicating that information to the project promoter. Project promoters should be able to interact prior to and during the permit-granting process with a single point of contact responsible for facilitating and coordinating the entire permit-granting process. It should be for Member States to decide by virtue of national law whether a single point of contact can act as a competent authority and issue comprehensive decisions. To ensure the effective implementation of their responsibilities, Member States should provide their single points of contact, as well as any authority involved in the permit-granting process, with sufficient personnel and resources.

Removed:Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6: (6) permit-granting process’ means a process that covers all relevant permissions permits, including permits, approvals or licences necessary to build, expand, convert and operate or repurpose any installation, equipment or activity for manufacturing defence products or components or for other activities forming part of a defence readiness project together with all administrative steps from acknowledgement of application completeness to notification of the final decision by the single point of contact;

Added:(22) To accelerate reaching full operational capacity of the single points of contact, it is important that Member States, to the extent possible, take advantage of possible complementarity with existing single points of contact, for example those established under Regulation (EU) 2024/1735 of the European Parliament and of the Council or Regulation (EU) 2024/1252 of the European Parliament and of the Council.

Removed:Article 2 – title: Single points of contact

Added:(23) Member States should provide the necessary administrative support to defence readiness projects located on their territory, to facilitate their timely and effective implementation. It is important to guarantee that project promoters are treated in a same way irrespectively of the Member State of their establishment. Additionally, it is important to pay particular attention to the needs of SMEs and mid-caps, which often face higher compliance costs and limited administrative capacity. To that end, the single point of contact should provide tailored guidance and early advisory services to SMEs, mid-caps and small mid-cap enterprises. Such support can include helpdesks, harmonised templates and digital tools, offering clear guidance on documentation and compliance requirements and assistance throughout the permit-granting process, so that smaller actors can participate effectively and without disproportionate administrative burden.

Removed:Article 2 – paragraph 1: 1. By …[3 months after the date of entry into force of this Regulation], each Member State shall establish or designate one authority as single point of contact at the relevant administrative level. The single point of contact shall operate as a single interface for each defence readiness project.

Added:(24) Single points of contact should collect, process and report relevant information in a consistent and timely manner. For the purposes of transparency, ex-post monitoring and Union-wide comparability, and to promote consistent and efficient implementation of this Regulation, Member States should submit to the Commission, on an annual basis, a statistical report on the application of this Regulation setting out the total number of permit applications granted, including those granted tacitly, pursuant to the procedures established by this Regulation. To assess whether the procedures established by this Regulation effectively contribute to its objectives, the Commission should periodically evaluate the implementation of this Regulation, in particular as regards the timelines of the permit-granting processes, participation of SMEs in defence readiness projects and the tacit approval mechanism.

Removed:Article 2 – paragraph 2: 2. The single point of contact shall be responsible for facilitating and coordinating the permit-granting process for defence readiness projects and for providing information on streamlining the administrative processes in accordance with Article 3, including information to the project promoter on when an application is considered to be completed in accordance with Article 5(6). At the request of the project promoter, the single point of contact shall also provide information whether the project could be considered a defence readiness project under this Regulation, as well as information on the required documentation to be submitted as part of the final application.

Added:(25) Transparency and equal access to information are crucial for the effective implementation of permit-granting processes. All project promoters, regardless of their Member State of establishment, should have access to centralised, easily accessible online information, to the extent that such publication is without prejudice to national security and with due regard to confidentiality requirements. That information should include details on single points of contact, permit-granting processes, dispute resolution mechanisms, financing and investment services and available Union or national funding instruments.

Change 2

Changed:Article 2 – paragraph 4: 4.(26) ProjectMember promotersStates shallshould beensure alloweddigital andexchange enabledbetween tothe submitproject anypromoter, documentsthe relevantsingle topoint theof permit-grantingcontact processand incompetent electronicauthorities, formincluding via a secure,an interoperable portal.portal Memberwhere Statesavailable, shallin ensureorder to facilitate the digitalelectronic exchangesubmission of documentationdocuments betweenand, where possible, the nationalreuse authority,of theinformation singlealready pointsubmitted ofunder contactother andUnion theor projectnational promoters.procedures.

Change 3

Removed:Article 2 – paragraph 4 a (new): 4a. Where an interoperable online portal is not available at the moment of application of this Article, the single point of contact shall provide for an alternative submission channel without delaying the time limits under Article 5 and shall notify the Commission of a time-bound plan that should not exceed 6 months to achieve full e-processing capability. That alternative submission channel shall be one-stop physical or postal. Capacity-building for implementing this paragraph may be supported under Regulation (EU) 20XX/XXXX on the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP) where applicable.

Added:(27) The Commission should, upon request by a Member State, offer capacity-building support to the single point of contact, including technical assistance, training, monitoring and evaluation, with the aim of developing and strengthening the abilities, processes and resources that the single points of contacts need to develop for the purposes of this Regulation. The Commission should make its best efforts to accord priority treatment to such requests. Such support ▌ falls within the scope of supporting actions under Regulation (EU) 2025/2643 of the European Parliament and of the Council. ▌

Removed:Article 2 – paragraph 5: 5. The competent authorities shall ensure that any relevant studies carried out, or permits or authorisations issued, for a given project are taken into account and that no duplicate studies, permits or authorisations are required, unless otherwise required under Union or national law. The single point of contact shall ensure the coordination among the competent authorities and those authorities shall have access to all relevant documents to facilitate the fast-track procedure.

Added:(28) In order to ensure clarity about the permit status of defence readiness projects and to limit the impact of potential abusive litigation, while not undermining effective judicial review, ▌ any dispute concerning the permit-granting process should be resolved in a timely manner. To that end, ▌ defence readiness projects should be treated as urgent in all administrative, judicial and dispute resolution procedures relating to such projects to the extent that national law provides for urgency procedures.

Removed:Article 2 – paragraph 6: 6. Member States shall ensure that the single point of contact and all competent authorities responsible for any step along the permit-granting processes, including all procedural steps, have enough qualified staff and sufficient financial, technical and digital resources necessary, including, where appropriate, for up- skilling and re-skilling, for the effective performance of their tasks under this Regulation.

Added:(29) In order to provide project promoters and other investors with the security and clarity needed to increase development of defence readiness projects, Member States should ensure that the permit-granting process related to such projects does not exceed set time limits. This Regulation sets the standard time limit of 42 working days for the permit-granting process and provides for flexibility to extend that time limit in certain cases. In order to avoid unjustified delays, the possibility of extending that time limit should be limited to the exceptional circumstances set out in this Regulation. Any extension of the permit‑granting process should be based on clearly identified and duly substantiated reasons. The single point of contact should provide a substantiated explanation demonstrating that exceptional circumstances exist and that additional time is necessary to complete the outstanding assessments. The reasons for the extension and the expected date of the comprehensive decision should be communicated in writing to the project promoter in a timely and transparent manner.

Removed:Article 2 – paragraph 7: 7. The authorities involved in the permit-granting process and other authorities concerned shall specify and make available to the single point of contact concerned, the requirements and all information requested of a project promoter before the permit-granting process commences. Single points of contact shall also make available relevant and necessary documents of the project promoter to the authorities, where necessary in the permit-granting process.

Added:(30) The permit-granting process should start when the single point of contact notifies the project promoter that the permit application received is complete and end when the single point of contact notifies the project promoter of the comprehensive decision.

Removed:Article 2 – paragraph 8: 8. Upon request by a Member State, the Commission shall assist the authorities of that Member State with capacity building in support of implementation of this Regulation, notably in establishing or operating a single point of contact. The Commission shall treat that request as a priority and commence implementation without undue delay in cooperation with the requesting Member State. Such assistance may include targeted technical and financial support, such as through Regulation (EU) 20XX/XXXX on the European Defence Industry Programme and cohesion policy instruments, to help Member States with limited administrative capacity.

Added:(31) Where an environmental impact assessment report or other assessments are required by Union or national law as part of a permit-granting process, a permit application should only be considered to be complete for the purposes of this Regulation where the environmental impact assessment report or other assessments have been provided by the project promoter. Where relevant, the competent national authorities should carry out their assessment obligations, including those pursuant to Directive 2011/92/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council, in particular Article 1(2), point (g)(iii), (iv) and (v) thereof, or any other assessments required under Union or national law, before the end of the permit-granting process. Moreover, the combined assessment referred to in this Regulation should be carried out in a manner that does not lead to a prolongation of the time limits set out in this Regulation.

Removed:Article 2 – paragraph 8 a (new): 8a. In Member States with a federal or otherwise decentralised administrative structure, the obligation to establish a single point of contact shall be understood as ensuring a coordinated and streamlined interface for each defence readiness project. Member States may designate more than one competent authority as single point of contact, where this is necessary to reflect their administrative organisation, provided that effective coordination mechanisms are established and that project promoters have one clearly identified coordinating authority acting as the sole interface for each project.

Added:(32) Where on expiry of the time limits provided for under this Regulation, the project promoter has not been informed of the outcome of the permit-granting process, the permits concerned should be deemed to have been granted and the project promoter should be deemed to have been authorised to implement the defence readiness project. The single point of contact should inform the project promoter within eight working days of the tacit approval and, where relevant, specify the conditions and requirements to which those permits are subject, in accordance with applicable Union or national law. Such tacit approval is without prejudice to Member States’ obligations to perform case-by-case examinations, assessment procedures or public consultations, which are to be carried out pursuant to Union or national law. Member States should be able to derogate from the general rule by allowing competent authorities not to apply the tacit approval to a specific permit application where the competent authority can demonstrate on the basis of duly substantiated and verifiable evidence that the specific project raises a grave risk to human health, or national security. Risks to human health could also include risks arising from environmental effects. Any derogation should be limited to what is strictly necessary to address the identified risk.

Removed:Article 2 – paragraph 8 b (new): 8b. Where a defence readiness project is cross-border within the EU, prompt notification and coordination by the single point of contact with the single points of contact of other Member States concerned shall be ensured. Member States shall ensure that single points of contact have protocols for the timely exchange and referral of information in such cases, without prejudice to national security and confidentiality rules

Added:(33) This Regulation is without prejudice to the obligations deriving from international law, where relevant.

Removed:Article 2 – paragraph 8 c (new): 8c. The Commission, in cooperation with Member States, shall ensure the development of common indicators and methodologies to assess the performance of the single points of contact, based on the data reported annually pursuant to Article 8a. Member States shall ensure that the single points of contact collect, process and transmit relevant information in a consistent and timely manner, to contribute to the transparent and comparable monitoring of the implementation of this Regulation across the Union.

Added:(34) Since the objective of this Regulation, namely to provide for streamlined and accelerated permit-granting processes of the Member States for defence readiness projects, cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States as diverging legislation to accelerate the permit-granting processes for the defence industry would result in barriers to the functioning of the internal market in the defence sector but can rather, by reason of the necessity to have harmonised Union-wide provisions, be better achieved at Union level, the Union may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty on European Union. In accordance with the principle of proportionality as set out in that Article, this Regulation does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve that objective.

Removed:Article 3 – paragraph 1 – introductory part: Member States shall provide public access to the following information on permit-granting processes relevant to defence readiness projects, online and in a centralised and easily accessible manner, to the extent that such publication is without prejudice to national security and with due regard to confidentiality requirements:

Added:(35) This Regulation is without prejudice to the Member States’ responsibility for safeguarding national security and the specific character of the security and defence policy of certain Member States. National security remains the sole responsibility of each Member State,

Removed:Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point d: (d) funding possibilities at Union and Member State level;

Added:HAVE ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Removed:Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point e a (new): (ea) guidelines and templates provided by the Member States for standardised permit applications where available;

Added:Article 1 Subject matter

Removed:Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point e b (new): (eb) applicable environmental, health and safety laws.

Added:This Regulation establishes common rules for the acceleration of permit-granting processes for defence readiness projects.

Removed:Article 4 – paragraph 1 – introductory part: Member States shall provide administrative support for defence readiness projects located on their territory to all project promoters, regardless of the Member States in which they are established, paying particular attention to SMEs and mid-caps, including small mid-cap enterprises, involved in those projects, including by providing:

Added:Article 2 Definitions

Removed:Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point a: (a) assistance regarding compliance with applicable administrative and reporting obligations, including with Union and national health, environmental, safety, social and labour laws;

Added:For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions apply:

Removed:Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new): (ca) coordination and assistance to project promoters of defence readiness projects with cross-border dimension and coordination for core defence production assets;

Added:(1) ‘defence readiness project’ means a set of activities, investments and measures aimed at enhancing the defence readiness of one Member State or of more Member States jointly, including through the development or modernisation of the defence industry ▌;