The EU reached an agreement on the allocation of 500 million euros for the production of ammunition
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The EU countries and the European Parliament have reached a preliminary agreement on the allocation of 500 million euros from the EU budget to support the production of ammunition. About it says in a statement on the website of the Council of the EU.
The report clarifies that the funds are needed to “support the expansion of production capacity for the production of ground-to-surface munitions and artillery shells, as well as missiles.”
“This will implement the third phase of the plan agreed by the Council in March 2023 to ensure a long-term increase in the production of ammunition in Europe for the benefit of Ukraine and EU member states,” the message says.
Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles stressed that the agreement is “another proof of the EU’s unwavering commitment to supporting Ukraine and strengthening the EU’s defense base.” She specified that the agreed rules would make it possible to provide financial support for the production of ammunition and missiles at all stages of their creation and supply. Support will be provided in the form of grants. The rules will also make it easier to access funding from the so-called “scaling up fund”.
The agreement must be approved by the council and parliament, after which it will be formally adopted after a legal review. It is planned that the document will come into force by the end of July.
On March 20, 2023, the council agreed on a tripartite approach that would provide Ukraine with 1 million artillery rounds over 12 months.
In June, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said that EU countries had sent shells worth 900 million euros to Ukraine since April. 26 June EU Council approved an increase in the European Peace Fund (EPF) by 3.5 billion euros. According to Borrell, this “will provide funding to continue to provide concrete military support to the armed forces of partners.”
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