One billion euros. There is a preliminary consent in the EU for joint purchases of ammunition for Ukraine

Preliminary consent in the European Union for joint purchases of ammunition for Ukraine was announced by Sweden, which is in charge of the Community’s work this six months. All procedures are to be finalized by Friday. – It is important that the consent has finally been agreed – commented on the matter in an interview with Polish Radio, the Polish ambassador to the Union, Andrzej Sadoś. He pointed out that Poland had emphasized from the beginning that orders and purchases must respond to the needs reported by the Ukrainian armed forces and that they must be implemented as soon as possible. – This was our common will to be guided by these priorities. This discussion lasted much longer than we initially thought. President Zelensky asked for ammunition deliveries here in Brussels on February 9. It seemed that we would be able to proceed with this decision in March, it turned out that it was possible at the beginning of May, the Polish ambassador to the Union told Polish Radio.

There is a preliminary consent in the EU for joint purchases of ammunition for Ukraine. At last…

For a long time, France did not want to agree to the agreement, which demanded a guarantee that all orders and purchases would be carried out by European companies using European components. Paris has attracted criticism from most countries for pushing the interests of their own defense sector. Many EU capitals underlined that while supporting European industry is important, when time is of the essence, purchasing outside the EU may prove essential. The Germans, whose companies import some components from the UK, were also angry, which would exclude them from joint EU orders and purchases.

Today’s compromise arrangements say that an important part of the production process must take place in the European Union, according to unofficial findings of the Brussels correspondent of Polish Radio. However, what exactly is not specified. – These findings are imprecise – one of the EU diplomats told Beata Płomecka. The second interlocutor of the Polish Radio correspondent asked rhetorically whether it was necessary to wait three months for these findings.

The EU plan to arm Ukraine

The joint procurement and purchase of ammunition is the second element of a three-part plan to arm Ukraine. The first provides for the urgent delivery of ammunition by EU countries from stocks in warehouses. One billion euros from the European Peace Fund has been allocated for this purpose. Countries that donate missiles from their stockpiles may apply for compensation and reimbursement. For the second element, on which the countries agreed today, the Union has also allocated one billion euros. The third and last element is a medium-term strategy for the development of the European defense industry and an increase in production capacity. The Commission announced today that it will provide half a billion euros for this purpose.