**Summary:**
Commission Decision (EU) 2019/513, dated March 26, 2019, establishes the security framework for the European Defence Industrial Development Programme (EDIDP), the 2019-2020 program for the capability development window of the European Defence Fund. The decision stipulates that Commission Decision (EU, Euratom) 2015/444 applies to the handling of classified information within the Programme. Member States, on whose territory beneficiaries are established, are authorized to classify foreground information generated during development actions and to establish specific security frameworks for its protection prior to the grant agreement signature. These Member States must inform the Commission of their security frameworks, while ensuring the Commission's access to necessary information for action implementation. If Member States do not establish a specific security framework, the Commission will establish one according to Decision (EU, Euratom) 2015/444. The applicable security framework must be in place before the grant agreement is signed. The decision entered into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Key Entities Referenced
European Defence Industrial Development Programme: A programme for 2019-2020 for the capability development window of the European Defence Fund, aiming at supporting the competitiveness and innovation capacity of the Union's defence industry
European Defence Fund: The fund under which the European Defence Industrial Development Programme falls.
Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union: The treaty that provides the legal basis for the Commission Decision, specifically Article 249.
Commission Decision EU, Euratom 2015/444: A Commission Decision on the security rules for protecting EU classified information. It applies to the handling of classified information in the European Defence Industrial Development Programme.
Member States: Member states of the European Union, specifically those on whose territory the beneficiaries of the European Defence Industrial Development Programme are established.
Commission: The European Commission, responsible for setting up a security framework if Member States do not.
Regulation EU 2018/1092: Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the European Defence Industrial Development Programme.
Brussels: Location where the Commission Decision was finalized.
27.3.2019 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 85/43
COMMISSION DECISION (EU) 2019/513
of 26 March 2019
on the security framework for the European Defence Industrial Development Programme
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 249 thereof,
Whereas:
(1) The European Defence Industrial Development Programme (1) (hereafter ‘the Programme’) is the programme for
2019-2020 for the capability development window of the European Defence Fund.
(2) Commission Decision (EU, Euratom) 2015/444 (2) shall apply to the handling of classified information in the
Programme.
(3) Given the specificities of the Programme and the role of Member States therein, Member States on whose
territory the beneficiaries are established may classify foreground information generated in the performance of
a development action, setting up a security framework to this end before the signature of the grant agreement,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
Classification of information
1. In the context of the Programme, the originatorship of classified foreground information generated in the
performance of a development action shall be decided upon by the Member States, on whose territory the beneficiaries
are established.
2. For that purpose, those Member States may decide on a specific security framework for the protection and
handling of classified information relating to the action and shall inform the Commission thereof.
3. Such a security framework shall be without prejudice to the possibility for the Commission to have access to
necessary information for the implementation of the action.
4. If no such specific security framework is set up by those Member States, the Commission shall set up the security
framework for the action in accordance with the provisions of Decision (EU, Euratom) 2015/444.
5. The applicable security framework for the action has to be in place at the latest before the signature of the grant
agreement.
Article 2
Entry into force
This Decision shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European
Union.
Done at Brussels, 26 March 2019.
For the Commission
The President
Jean-Claude JUNCKER
(1) Established by Regulation (EU) 2018/1092 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 July 2018 establishing the European
Defence Industrial Development Programme aiming at supporting the competitiveness and innovation capacity of the Union's defence
industry (OJ L 200, 7.8.2018, p. 30).
(2) Commission Decision (EU, Euratom) 2015/444 of 13 March 2015 on the security rules for protecting EU classified information
(OJ L 72, 17.3.2015, p. 53).