BRUSSELS, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- The European Commission announced on Wednesday that it will invest 1 billion euros (1.17 billion U.S. dollars) in joint defence, as part of efforts to support collective defence innovation and capability development.

The investment is set out under the 2026 European Defence Fund (EDF) Work Program to fund 31 collaborative research and development topics in priority areas agreed by member states, spanning core defence capabilities, future technologies and defence innovation, while maintaining support for small- and medium-sized enterprises and mid-capitalization companies, according to a statement.

"We are turning shared priorities into shared capabilities," said Andrius Kubilius, European Commissioner for Defence and Space.

The Commission also said the work program introduces measures aligned with the European Defence Industrial Strategy to accelerate and streamline innovation cycles, particularly for disruptive technologies.

The EDF was launched in 2021 to promote cross-border cooperation on defence research and capability development, as the EU seeks to strengthen its industrial base and pursue greater strategic autonomy over the years.

According to the Commission, the EDF has supported 224 projects with around 4 billion euros since 2021. (1 euro = 1.17 U.S. dollars) ■