Why Europe’s defence upgrade depends on Italy’s district model

Interview with Elena Donazzan on European Defence Industry Programme

Elena Donazzan, Member of the European Parliament for the ECR/FdI group and shadow rapporteur on the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP), shared insights on the importance of Italy's district model for Europe’s defence modernization.

Italy's District Model as a Defence Strength

Donazzan emphasized that Italy’s district model—a network of specialized industrial clusters spread across the country—plays a crucial role in defense production. This model encourages collaboration between small and medium enterprises, promoting innovation and efficiency that strengthens the European defence sector as a whole.

Challenges in European Defence Upgrading

Despite Europe's ambition to upgrade its defence capabilities, Donazzan pointed out structural and bureaucratic hurdles. The European Defence Fund must effectively support territorial ecosystems like Italy’s districts to balance centralization with local expertise and manufacturing agility.

The European Defence Industry Programme’s Role

The EDIP aims to harmonize defence industrial efforts across member states. Donazzan advocates for EDIP policies that recognize and foster Italy’s decentralized district system, which could serve as a blueprint for other European countries aiming to boost resilience and technological innovation in defence.

"Italy's unique district model is not just a national asset but a European one; it should be the foundation upon which we build a stronger, more integrated defence industry in Europe."

This perspective underlines the strategic value of leveraging localized industrial ecosystems to achieve broader European security goals.

Elena Donazzan highlights Italy’s district model as a vital European defence asset, advocating for policies that integrate local industrial strengths into a unified continental defence upgrade.

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Decode39 Decode39 — 2025-11-29

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