ASD President Alessandro Profumo Highlights Key Role of European Aerospace & Defence Industry for Sustainability at EU Industry Days

• European Commission organises EU Industry Days 2022 from 8-11 February
• ASD President Alessandro Profumo highlights the core role of European Aerospace & Defence companies as providers of technologies for the green and digital transition
• “There is no sustainability without security, and no security without defence capabilities and industry”

Brussels, February 10, 2022 – In a high-level multi-stakeholder panel discussion as part of the EU Industry Days 2022, ASD President and CEO of Leonardo Alessandro Profumo highlighted the strategic role and reconfirmed the commitment of the European aerospace and defence industry to the EU’s green and digital transformation.

“The aerospace and defence industry is committed to the digital and green transition and is investing significantly in relevant capabilities”, Mr Profumo said.

Regarding the decarbonisation of the aviation sector, Mr Profumo highlighted again that “We are working on the target of net-zero emissions in Europe by 2050, mainly improving aircraft and helicopters’ technologies and engines but also upgrading air traffic management”. Mr Profumo’s comments came a few days after the European aviation sector signed the “Toulouse Declaration” (“Declaration on Future Sustainability and Decarbonisation of Aviation”) and the sector’s call for a comprehensive EU Pact for Aviation Decarbonisation as a next step in which EU Member States and the Commission should commit to a structured dialogue with industry.

Against the background of a growing trend to consider the defence sector as non-sustainable, Mr. Profumo countered: “There is no sustainability without security, and no security without defence capabilities and industry.” (ASD’s views on sustainability and the European defence industry are summarized in a dedicated position paper).

Concluding his intervention, Mr Profumo highlighted: “The EU taxonomy is key to incentivise the right behaviours in terms of environment, social and governance elements. This topic will be relevant for the future of this industry: it will be core to foster funding for research and innovation, with a dual use return.”

The panel discussion, titled “Business case – EU industry investing in the green, digital and resilient economy”, was part of the 2022 EU Industry Days, the EU’s annual platform to discuss industry challenges, opportunities and policy responses in an inclusive dialogue with a wide range of stakeholders. The overarching theme of this year’s EU Industry Days – which continue until February 14 – is “Unlocking the future: EU industrial ecosystems on the path to the green and digital transition.”