Agency in the field of defence capabilities (Extract from: Presidency Conclusions Thessaloniki European Council 19 and 20 June 2003)

Brussels, 20 Jun 2003

65. The European Council, following the 2003 Spring European Council, tasks the appropriate bodies of the Council to undertake the necessary actions towards creating, in the course of 2004, an intergovernmental agency in the field of defence capabilities development, research, acquisition and armaments. This agency, which shall be subject to the Council's authority and open to participation by all Member States, will aim at developing defence capabilities in the field of crisis management, promoting and enhancing European armaments cooperation, strengthening the European defence industrial and technological base and creating a competitive European defence equipment market, as well as promoting, in liaison with the Community's research activities where appropriate, research aimed at leadership in strategic technologies for future defence and security capabilities, thereby strengthening Europe's industrial potential in this domain.

http://ue.eu.int/pressData/en/ec/769.p df