The Council of the European Union gave final approval to three legislative acts covering defence investment, permitting, procurement and transfers between member states.

One regulation simplifies administration of the European Defence Fund and increases the funding-rate bonus for projects involving small and medium-sized companies. A second creates a common permit framework with a maximum process of 102 working days.

The permit measure allows tacit approval when authorities miss the deadline, while national law may preserve exceptions where there is a grave risk to human health or national security. The accompanying directive raises procurement thresholds and adds flexibility for joint purchasing, contract changes and framework agreements.

The acts are scheduled for publication in the EU Official Journal and will enter into force 20 days after publication. Implementation will still depend on the specific rules, national procedures and projects involved.