European Defence Projects of Common Interest
Multi-country EU defence-industrial projects eligible for co-funding under the European Defence Industry Programme.
On 28 September 2026 the Council of the European Union named the first five European Defence Projects of Common Interest: DECODER, IMSD, SPACE, EU-FIAMD and Eastern Flank Watch, which share €325m reserved from the €1.5bn European Defence Industry Programme.
Last refreshed: 1 October 2026
Timeline for European Defence Projects of Common Interest
EU picks DECODER drone project for EDIP
Drones: Industry & DefenceBackground
European Defence Projects of Common Interest (EDPCIs) are large multi-country defence-industrial projects that qualify for EU co-funding because no single country could easily build the capability alone. Article 35 of Regulation (EU) 2025/2643, the European Defence Industry Programme regulation adopted in December 2025, created the category.
Selection ran through 2026. the Commission called for proposals on 16 February, received nine and proposed five on 3 July; the Council confirmed all five on 28 September. Each project is open to Norway and, where relevant, Ukraine.
On average 18 member states join each project, and Ukraine takes part in four of the five, all except SPACE. The €325m pays for setting the projects up, while their estimated sizes run from €3.5bn for DECODER to €100bn for Eastern Flank Watch, so national budgets carry most of the cost. Further money may come from the planned European Competitiveness Fund.