IndustriAll Europe together with the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), the European Public Service Union (EPSU) and the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF), issue an urgent call to Members of the European Parliament to defend workers’ rights in the upcoming vote on the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP).

The compromise text emerging from trilogue negotiations raised alarm bells. It risks setting a dangerous precedent at a moment when defence policy is taking on increasing prominence in the EU agenda.

In particular, what is deeply concerning is provisions allowing derogations from workers’ rights in the production of so-called “crisis-relevant defence products” across the entire value chain. The conditions for declaring such a crisis situation remain vague—referring broadly to internal market disruptions—and, unions argue, fall far short of justifying the suspension of fundamental labour protections.

The current text also opens the door to derogations from environmental rules and health and safety standards for production facilities.

Defence must not be elevated above all other public interests. No emergency should justify lowering the protections that safeguard workers, communities and the environment.

While there are wide-ranging concerns about the EDIP compromise text, European trade unions specifically call on MEPs to support amendments that delete the proposed derogations on working time.

“Strengthening Europe’s security cannot be limited to military capability. True resilience requires economic security and social stability,” said Isabelle Barthés IndustriAll Europes deputy general secretary. “EU action on defence and security must not come at the cost of workers’ rights, decent working conditions, social progress, investments in the green and digital transitions, or the quality of public services.”

As the European Parliament prepares for its decisive vote, Europe’s workers are watching closely. We urge MEPs to stand firmly on the side of fundamental rights and ensure that defence policy does not undermine the social foundations of the European project.