BRUSSELS, Sept 25, 2007 (AFP) - The European Defence Agency on Tuesday adopted a scheme for EU nations to share and coordinate their investments in new arms testing and evaluation.

The new code of conduct is designed 'to avoid duplication and encourage the sharing of these expensive facilities' in Europe, the EDA said in a statement.

The agency's outgoing chief executive Nick Witney gave as examples joint use of expensive wind tunnels for aerodynamic testing and research tanks for submarines.