The foreign and defense ministers of the European Union have reached an agreement on Monday for the plan of joint purchases of ammunition to replenish the reserves of the European armies and ensure the sustainable supply that Ukraine needs in the context of the war with Russia.

The plan has been presented at the meeting by the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, and the attendees have given their support to it, several diplomatic sources have informed Europa Press. In this way, Member States will provide Ukraine with artillery ammunition from their own arsenals and receive aid from €1 billionthrough the European Peace Mechanism, to invest in its replacement.

The other part of the plan goes through a joint purchase plan of ammunition worth another 1 billion, in what will become the first joint arms acquisitions through the European Defense Agency (EDA, for its acronym). In total, the goal is to mobilize one million 155-mm howitzers for Ukraine, according to community leaders.

Shortly afterwards, the President of the European Council, Charles-Michel, has assured that the support of the Twenty-seven will continue. “It is urgent to help Ukraine defend itself“, has valued in a message on social networks.

Along the same lines, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has entered into an agreement to send one million shells to Ukraine within a year. “Ukrainian soldiers are showing great courage and tenacity. But they need ammunition“, he pointed out, advancing that the European Executive will work with the Twenty-seven to increase the industrial production of European Defense to meet this objective.

A “historic” decision

For his part, the High Representative described this step as “historic decision“, has stressed that it will serve to supply a million artillery shells and has recalled the three phases of the plan to mobilize existing reserves, advance in joint purchases and increase the industrial production capacity of weapons.

As reported, 18 countries They have signed the EDA project to group orders and make a joint demand to the arms industry. On the issue of prioritizing European-made military material, the agreement finally contemplates that purchases be limited to the arms industry of the Member States and Norway, the sources consulted have reported.

In a statement, the EDA said the plan “opens the way” for EU member states and Norway to jointly procure 155mm artillery ammunition in a two-year project, in addition to another seven-year initiative. “to acquire various types of ammunition.”

Among the countries that have already joined the initiative Spain is not found. The agency does confirm the participation of Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden and Norway. “Other Member States have already indicated their intention to join the initiative shortly following national procedures,” he added.

The EDA insists that this route is “the best option to achieve a reduction in costs derived from economies of scale, while allowing Member States to purchase ammunition based on their national needs and support Ukraine.” At all times he defends the flexibility of the instrument that will allow EDA members to join the initiative “at a later stage”.

In this way, the agency will have a central role in the negotiations and finalization of contracts with the industry, although the plan does not exclude the option for coalitions of countries to renegotiate their contracts and increase the orders committed to the arms industry, a scenario that it defends. Germany.

First joint purchase of EU military material

Upon arrival at the meeting, the head of community diplomacy asked the Member States for “pragmatism”. “Let’s not get into a battle of skills and egos. We have to provide Ukraine with ammunition quickly, in large quantities and in good financial conditions for us,” he said before calling on the ministers to finalize the plan.

The culmination of the agreement has been celebrated by numerous European foreign and defense ministers, pointing out the historic step taken by the bloc in advancing for the first time in an initiative for joint procurement of military material.

If there is a will, there is a way. It was not easy but a political consensus has been reached to send one million 155mm shells to Ukraine,” said Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur.

For his part, his German counterpart, Boris Pistorius, has defended that the deal breaks “new ground” with the signing of a collaborative agreement for the purchase of ammunition, although he has defended, at the same time, that national contracts will be used in the short term to obtain “quick results”.