EU Agile programme to speed up defence tech, a chance for Czechia

The European Union has created the Agile programme, designed to speed up the development of military technology, from artificial intelligence and quantum computing to drones, cybersecurity and space systems. Czech companies, according to MEPs, could get their chance in it.

The aim of the programme is to “shake up” the development of areas that are increasingly used in modernising armies: drones, air defence, communication systems and satellites. Pavel Havlíček, an analyst at the Association for International Affairs, explained that AI is already used in systems usually sent to the battlefield, such as ground drones: autonomously controlled vehicles can deliver ammunition and supplies to soldiers.

Agile's main trumps are fast funding and less bureaucracy. Grants should be issued in just four months. Contact between small and medium-sized enterprises and the “prime contractors” of the defence industry, the large European arms companies, will also become simpler.

The creation of the programme itself was fast too: it was approved in a record seven months after the proposal was submitted. According to Czech MEP Ondřej Krutílek (TOP 09), this shows strong support from all 27 member states. “Europe cannot afford to be slow when the threat is fast. Innovation is Europe's strength. So let's finally make use of it,” said the rapporteur for the bill, Latvian MEP Ivars Ijabs (Renew).

How the Czechs voted

Most Czech MEPs also voted for the programme. Three voted against: Ivan David (SPD), Ondřej Dostál and Kateřina Konečná (both of Stačilo!).

Supporters see the programme as an opportunity for Czech firms. “Linking European funding with Czech research, development and production is a chance to strengthen both our security and our competitiveness,” said shadow rapporteur Jan Farský (STAN), adding that Czech companies are very keen to get involved. MEP Jaroslava Pokorná Jermanová (ANO) considers it important that the money is not concentrated in just a few countries with the strongest defence industries, and that firms from across the Union get a chance.

If the programme proves its worth, the EU could allocate up to one billion euros to it in 2028, Ijabs added. Analyst Havlíček called the initiative much needed: even good ideas sometimes cannot be launched for lack of money.

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz