As previously announced, BLOMSTEIN is publishing a series of briefings introducing into European and German legal defence matters.

Today’s briefing focuses on regulatory topics that might occur in relation to the investment and ramp-up phase of startups. These issues refer to export control, public procurement and foreign direct investment control law.

Am 23. Februar 2025 stehen in Deutschland Neuwahlen an. Vor dem Hintergrund der multiplen internationalen Herausforderungen ist ein wesentliches Thema auch die nationale Sicherheit und Verteidigung. Dieses Briefing gibt einen Überblick über die Inhalte der Wahlprogramme der wichtigsten Parteien zu den Themen Bundeswehr, der Finanzierung derselben und zur Verteidigungsindustrie.

Seit letzter Woche ist es offiziell: Die deutsche Umsetzung der Richtlinie (EU) 2022/2555 (sog. NIS-2-Richtlinie) zur Erhöhung der IT-Sicherheit in den EU-Mitgliedstaaten ist vorerst gescheitert. Dies führt dazu, dass viele zukünftig von NIS-2 betroffene Unternehmen weiterhin im Unklaren darüber sind, welche konkreten Maßnahmen sie in der Zukunft ergreifen müssen. Im Folgenden möchten wir etwas Orientierung dazu bieten:

The European economy is under mounting pressure from China's rapid technological advances and industrial policy, trade uncertainties linked to the new Trump administration in the USA, and growing geopolitical instability, which impact the competitive landscape in several global markets and increase disruption risks in supply chains. In this challenging economic and political climate, enhancing the competitiveness of European businesses and reinforcing the resilience of the Single Market have become key political priorities, as outlined in the European Council's Budapest Declaration on the New European Competitiveness Deal.

Eine Vergabe eines öffentlichen Auftrags an ein bestimmtes Unternehmen ohne europaweite Ausschreibung ist nur in engen Ausnahmefällen zulässig. Ein in der Praxis häufig herangezogener Grund ist, dass aufgrund von Ausschließlichkeitsrechten, beispielsweise Urheberrechten, nur ein Unternehmen den Auftrag ausführen kann. Diese Möglichkeit hat der Europäische Gerichtshof (EuGH) in einer bemerkenswerten Entscheidung eingeschränkt – mit erheblichen Folgen für Unternehmen und an das Vergaberecht gebundene Auftraggeber.

Government-to-government (G2G) contracts represent a popular tool among EU Member States to procure defence equipment and other sensitive goods as well as related works and services, such as capacity training or maintenance and logistical support. In particular, many EU countries frequently purchase equipment from the US through its Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. Intra-EU defence trade is also common, with France and Germany being the Union's two largest sellers of defence and security goods and services. While such G2G contracts hold many advantages from a security policy point of view, they may negatively affect competition in the defence and security market for private operators. Nevertheless, such G2G transactions can be exempted from compliance with EU public procurement law.

Während der weltweite Wandel hin zu nachhaltigen Energielösungen an Dynamik gewinnt, bietet der europäische Wasserstoffmarkt noch nie da gewesene Möglichkeiten. Die jüngsten Entwicklungen in Deutschland und der Europäischen Union zeigen strategische Fortschritte sowohl in der Produktion als auch in der Infrastruktur.

The Foreign Subsidies Regulation’s (FSR) concentration and public procurement tool came into force one year ago in October 2023. Its first year of application has shown that the European Commission is determined to make use of its new tools to tackle third-country subsidies distorting competition in the EU internal market. In this briefing, we provide an overview of the most important FSR rules and the lessons learned from their first application.

After many years in the shadows, the European defence industry has returned to the political agenda since Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine. One of the ways to strengthen the domestic industry is to favour EU companies in defence procurement by EU Member States. A recent decision by the European Court of Justice has paved the way – with significant consequences for non-EU defence companies.

A recent decision brings new life to the question of compensation for unlawful conduct by the German MOD in Defence Procurements. As the German lawmakers decided in February 2022 to reduce the effectivity and the possibilities to seek the prevention of awards by way of single source procurements, competitors were effectively left to claim damages. However, chances of succeeding therein have always been difficult low. A recent ECJ decision might change that.