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Defence investments: EU initiatives on simplification and fast track

Defence investments: EU initiatives on simplification and fast track

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25 jun 2025
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The European Commission launched the Defence Readiness Omnibus package on 17 June 2025. The aim is to provide a framework which helps the EU states and industry to "scale up defence capabilities and infrastructure to reach the levels of readiness required to prepare for thereby deter a high intensity conflict".

Norway is linked to the EU through the EEA agreement and is obliged to implement EU rules which falls within the scope of the EEA-Agreement.

The EEA agreement does not comprise EUs defence and security-policies as such, but many of the proposed measures relate to the internal market rules which falls within the scope. As an example, the procurement rules in Norway are based on the EU procurement directives and the Defence Readiness Omnibus includes proposed changes to Directive 2009/81 (on procurements within the field of defence and security ), which in Norway has been implemented through the regulation on procurement within the field of defence and security (in Norway referred to as "FOSA"). In short, the EU has proposed the following changes to directive 2009/81. 

  • The threshold for application of the Directive 2009/81/EC will be raised. This to enable focus on critical contracts and have less administrative burdens for the industry and the contracting authority in smaller procurement procedures.
    • Today, the threshold in Norway is NOK 4,6 million ex. VAT for goods and services and NOK 57,8 million ex. VAT for public works contracts (construction),
    • The thresholds are proposed doubled for goods and services and approx. 50 % increase for public works contracts (construction).
  • Include the open procedure and dynamic purchasing system, based on Directive 2014/24. This to widen the range of procedures at disposal.
  • Include innovation partnership model, also based on Directive 2014/24, providing basis to purchase the commercial developments from an initial research and development contract.
  • Codification on provisions related to joint cooperative programmes (between EU-states) based on R&D after the end of the R&D phase.
  • The maximum duration of framework agreements from 7 to 10 years.
  • Codification and tailored rules on changes to defence and security contracts.
  • A temporary derogation to use negotiated procedure without prior publication for common procurements, including off-the-shelf procurement. This in order to "quickly acquire the defence capabilities they need, while also allowing for a degree of flexibility in procurement procedures, thereby supporting the rapid replenishment of their stocks and the enhancement of their defence readiness.

The proposal can be found here.

Norway has also initiated its own revision of FOSA (within the scope of national adjustments in the existing directive 2009/ 81) and the proposed changes are expected to come before summer. However, this may change based on EUs own proposed changes to the underlying directive.

An overview of the totality of the measures in the Defence Readiness Omnibus can be found here.

For reference on the existing rules on procurement within the defence and security sector in the Nordic region, DLA Pipers Nordic public procurement team have published articles on the rules within each jurisdiction. These articles are written in English and publically available below:

For questions relating to defence and security procurements, feel free to contact partner Line Voldstad.

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