Rui de Oliveira Neves and Vasco Xavier Mesquita co-author article on new investment in Defence

Rui de Oliveira Neves and Vasco Xavier Mesquita, partners in Morais Leitão’s Defence and Aerospace practice, co-author the article “New Investment in Defence: an opportunity for Portugal to do things differently?”, published in the latest issue of Aspectos, the magazine of the French-Portuguese Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Issue no. 215 of the publication is dedicated to the theme “Portugal-France: An Industrial Alliance for the Defence of Europe”, against a backdrop of increased European investment in the defence sector and the search for new opportunities for industrial cooperation between the two countries.

In the article, the authors analyse the paradigm shift currently taking place in the sector and the new financing instruments developed by the European Union, highlighting the challenges these create for companies, particularly in relation to public procurement, joint procurement mechanisms between Member States, export control regimes and the scrutiny of foreign investment.

Rui de Oliveira Neves and Vasco Xavier Mesquita also examine the potential involvement of Portuguese industry in the production, innovation and maintenance of defence goods, highlighting recognised capabilities in areas such as unmanned aerial systems, advanced composite materials, aeronautical and naval maintenance, secure communications and applied artificial intelligence.

In this context, our lawyers advocate a strategy based on innovation, skills development and technological autonomy, sustained investment, and stronger cooperation between the Armed Forces, industry and the national scientific community. They also stress the importance of Portugal developing and testing its own solutions.

Aspectos is the economic publication of the French-Portuguese Chamber of Commerce and Industry and publishes three issues a year dedicated to analysing sectors, markets and topics relevant to economic relations between Portugal and France.

Read the full article here.