European Defence Industry Programme secures carve out from Working Time, Habitats and Wastewater Directives.

In a vote on the European Defence Industry Programme today, the European Parliament shockingly voted in favour of derogations from workers' rights in the production of so-called "crisis-relevant products", i.e. arms manufacturing. The derogation of workers' rights will be decided ultimately by the bosses, represented by an opaque advisory board, with European Trade Unions decrying the attack on fundamental labour protections.

The Parliament also voted for the arms industry to benefit from derogations on EU regulations on habitats, protecting flora and fauna, and even the landmark Water Framework Directive. The result is the sacrifice of basic environmental protections to the benefit of the military-industrial complex.

MEP Özlem Demirel (Die Linke, Germany) said: "A war economy means that all areas of public life and production are subordinated to the demands and needs of war. This program is a dangerous turning point, a watershed at the expense of social standards, environmental standards, and occupational safety. It is also economically misguided. Investment in armaments is dead capital. Armaments can only be produced endlessly as long as there is a corresponding need in the event of war, or if this need is artificially created [...] Fundamental and hard-won achievements of workers and trade unions are currently up for grabs. This is not about the 1.5 billion euros, but about the political course being set. They are systematically directing public and private investment into the arms industry. Militarisation is being financed, finances are being militarised."

MEP Marc Botenga (PTB/PVDA, Belgium) said: "The EDIP text contains serious attacks on workers' rights, the environment and transparency. The proposed derogation to the European Working Time Directive will mean more fatigue for workers and an increased risk of workplace accidents. It is a violation of occupational standards in industries that are already often at high risk. The EDIP text also promotes derogations from the European Directives that protect our drinking water and natural habitats. This militarist agenda attacks workers' rights and public health in the name of an emergency suggested by the arms lobbies."

One of the aims of EDIP is to fuel the EU's capacity to produce weapons, despite EU Member States already making up the second most military spending on the planet. The agreement allows for the redirecting of funds meant for recovering from the covid pandemic to military spending as well as funds meant for employment, education or regional development in certain circumstances.

The Left fundamentally opposes any attacks on established working and environmental rights in the name of militarisation. The Left rejects the militarisation of the European Union, which claims to be built as a peace project, and urges the Commission to promote arms control rather than fueling arms proliferation. Above all, The Left believes that diplomacy should remain the cornerstone of EU foreign policy.