Even Serbia is lobbying for military industry support in Brussels!

The European military industry has never spent so much on lobbying and has never lobbied as much as it does now. The arrival of Donald Trump in the White House drastically changed the dynamic balance in international security and defense, and the American withdrawal from multilateral defense initiatives, along with demands for increased defense spending from NATO allies, has shifted the strategic focus of the European Commission in just a few months. Instead of reforming European business competitiveness, which EU bureaucrats complicated themselves, we now had to quickly invent our own defense capabilities. There is no money, but borrowing is the solution, so suddenly there will be billions available for the military industry, and it would be fair for that money to be distributed first to European companies. This is also the reasoning of the European military industry, which has intensified its lobbying activities in Brussels.

Companies such as Airbus, Thales, Rheinmetall, SAAB, and Leonardo now view lobbying as a core business strategy and adjust their expenses accordingly, while our military industry is still lagging behind in this regard. Domestic companies are lobbying, but through professional associations and initiatives that gather the broader industrial community, as we were informed by DOK-ING. If the Croatian military industry wants to participate in the distribution of capital for armaments and does not shift into a higher gear, it may end up empty-handed as competition is currently fierce. Not only EU industries are interested in European armament funds, but also manufacturers from third countries, such as Turkey, which also wants at least part of the eight billion euros worth of ReArma, the fund for arming Europe, to be spent on its military industry or 150 million euros from the Safe fund. As we learn, even some Serbian companies that produce weapons have sent their lobbyists to the headquarters of European bureaucracy for euros! The Croatian military industry clearly has time.

Defense is the star

– It is quite normal for countries that are not hostile to EU member states and whose interests somewhat align with its interests to want to participate in the procurement of armaments for the Old Continent – explains one of the Croatian representatives in the EU Parliament, who confirms that there has never been more lobbyists in Brussels, especially for defense, which is the star of advocacy. However, it is not only this sector that is being advocated for; other lobbyists representing numerous other industries are also intensifying their efforts, especially in the context of the introduction of American tariffs. He points out that after the first announcement of tariffs on all products from the EU, the alcoholic beverage industry, particularly whiskey producers from Ireland and winemakers from Italy and Spain, lobbied significantly, advocating the position that the EU should not retaliate against the US with the same measure as it would drastically reduce their exports, revenues, and threaten their business. In the past year, Big Tech lobbyists have also been active in changing the Artificial Intelligence Act, and it seems they have succeeded in their efforts. Indeed, unpredictable American tariffs shaking global trade significantly affect European competitiveness, and even the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, realizes that Europe will compete more easily with the US and other players in the global market if it eases regulations a bit, and a new strategy for the development of artificial intelligence with simplified rules is reportedly already in the works.

To read how the European military industry lobbies, what they specifically advocate for, and which other industries are intensifying these activities in Brussels, see the printed or digital edition of Lider.