in full Ukrainian counteroffensive and with the credibility of Kremlin at record lows, after the failed Wagner Group mutinythe European Union has approved a new aid package of 500 million euros of the EU budget to support the increase in manufacturing capacities for the production of ground-to-ground ammunition and artillery, as well as missiles.
He European Council and the Parliament reached an agreement yesterday, after midnight, to boost the production of ammunition y missiles in the EU. The regulation falls within the Ammunition Production Support Act (ASAP) and, in this way, the third way of the plan agreed by the Council in March 2023 to ensure the long-term increase in the European ammunition production for the benefit of both Ukraine as well as the Member States.
Defense Minister, Daisy Robleshas stated that “this is further evidence of the EU’s unwavering commitment to supporting Ukraine, strengthening the Union’s defense technological and industrial base and, ultimately, ensuring the long-term security and defense of its citizens.” ».
The new agreed rules introduce an “Instrument” through which the UE will financially support the reinforcement of the capacities of industrial production of ammunition and missiles of the community institution along the supply and value chains.
This financial support will be provided in the form of grants to various types of actions that contribute to the efforts of the European defense industry to increase their production capacities and deal with bottlenecks.
This agreement is still provisional and must now be endorsed by the Council and Parliament. Later, both institutions will formally adopt it after a legal-linguistic review. Final approval is expected before the end of July.
Brussels is aware that the ukrainian war has exposed to European defense market “to even greater challenges.” The Twenty-seven have intensified their efforts to satisfy the pressing defense needs from kyiv. The European conscience in defense has undergone a radical change after the russian invasion and has highlighted the need to invest in this area.
This new proposal European Union It comes at a crucial moment, above all, facing the summit of the Atlantic Alliance in Lithuaniawhere the allies will commit to raising spending on defense at 2% of GDPbeing this the minimum and not the maximum.
