The Dutch government has taken an official step toward joining OCCAR, Europe’s multinational defense procurement organization, after submitting an accession bill to parliament.
The legislation, presented to the House of Representatives by Defence Minister Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius and Foreign Affairs Minister Tom Berendsen, would make the Netherlands OCCAR’s seventh member state.
Parliamentary approval is still required before the accession process can move forward, with the Ministry of Defence indicating that final approval could come sometime in 2026.
OCCAR — formally known as the Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en matière d’Armement — currently includes Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the UK. The body manages multinational defense acquisition and development programs independently from the EU and NATO.
Membership would provide the Netherlands with access to OCCAR’s established mechanisms for coordinating and managing complex joint procurement projects.
According to Yeşilgöz-Zegerius, deeper European defense collaboration is essential to improve interoperability among allied militaries, with shared procurement helping ensure compatibility during operations and training exercises.
Multinational Defense Projects
OCCAR’s ongoing programs demonstrate the scale and scope of the multinational initiatives the Netherlands aims to participate in more directly.
In May, the European Hypersonic Defence Interceptor System program, managed by OCCAR, completed its mission definition review, creating a common operational baseline for the project.
In February, the organization finalized a contract to manage funding and program oversight for a new airborne electronic warfare effort intended to address emerging electromagnetic threats across various aircraft platforms.
That same month, OCCAR also renewed support arrangements for NATO’s A400M transport aircraft fleet through a five-year agreement covering electronic support services for aircraft structures and engines.
