The European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP) is a strategic initiative of the European Union aimed at strengthening the European defence technological and industrial base (European Defence Defense Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB). EDIP is a continuation of previous programmes such as the European Defence Fund (EDF) and the European Defence Industrial Development Programme (EDIDP). This programme was developed in response to the growing security challenges in Europe and the need to increase the strategic autonomy of the European Union. EDIP supports the development of advanced defence technologies, increases the competitiveness of the defence sector in the EU and promotes cross-border cooperation between Member States in the field of military research, development and production. Its overarching objective is to create conditions for increasing the defence capabilities of EU countries while ensuring a more efficient use of financial and technological resources[1].
Equal pay and transparency is one of the fundamental pillars of social justice and gender equality policy in the European Union. Despite many years of efforts to eliminate the pay gap, there are still significant differences in the earnings of women and men performing the same work or work of equal value. In response to these challenges, on 10 May 2023, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union adopted Directive 2023/970, which aims to strengthen the application of the principle of equal pay through pay transparency mechanisms and more effective enforcement of the law.
The new regulations require employers to disclose remuneration criteria, report pay differences and implement tools that allow employees to pursue their rights in the event of suspected discrimination. Another significant change is the transfer of the burden of proof to the employer in proceedings concerning unequal pay.
