Defence: the changes to the TUOM for the reorganization of the Ministry of Defense approved by the Council of Ministers

The Council of Ministers, upon proposal of the Minister of Defence, Guido Crosetto, approved on May 24th, on a preliminary basis, the regulation with the amendments to the Consolidated Law on regulatory provisions relating to the military system (TUOM). The objective of the text is to continue the reorganization of the central technical-administrative area of ​​the Ministry of Defense and the offices directly collaborating with the Minister of Defense.

“The newly approved Prime Ministerial Decree constitutes a further step, essential for the optimization of the resources and skills of the Dicastery, necessary for leaner processes and faster decisions, in a historical period in which it is fundamental for the country system to be relevant in strategic contexts global". Thus the Minister of Defense, Guido Crosetto.

The provision has a dual purpose:

1) reorganize general level management structures following the separation of the roles of Secretary General of Defense and National Director of Armaments (operated with legislative decree no. 75 of 2023);

2) adapt the TUOM to the changes of the directly collaborating offices of
Minister of Defense (arranged with article 7-ter of the Legislative Decree of 22 April 2023, n. 44).

The separation of the roles of Secretary General of Defense and National Director of Armaments has given rise to the need for one profound structural reorganization of the Dicastery to strengthen the strategic sectors of research and technological innovation, industrial policy and military procurement.

The National Director of Armaments, based on the directions of the Minister of Defense and the technical-operational directives of the Chief of Defense Staff, will have among others the task of propose the actions necessary to harmonize the objectives of the Dicastery with the national economic-industrial and technical-scientific policy, in the areas relating to industry and technology, innovation, technological research, experimentation, development, production and supplies, a responsibility currently attested to in the single figure of SGD/DNA.

Also expected is the position of Director for Defense Policy, with the function of collaboration, consultancy and assistance to the Political Summit of the Dicastery in the exercise of its functions in matters of military and industrial interest (a role partly corresponding to that of the Military Councillor, abolished in 2014).

The provision also provides, among the direct collaboration offices, the Defense Communications Office, with responsibilities in the field of public information and communication, and the Strategic Studies and Technological Innovation Coordination Office, with tasks in the field of scientific research, in the fields of strategic security and technological innovation. Both offices will absorb expertise currently present in the Minister's Cabinet Office.

The provision now passes to the Council of State for the expected opinion.