THE European Commission will propose today (3/5) the creation of a financing mechanism to boost manufacturing capability ammunition in its member states The European Unionin order to be able to produce one million shells a year, in order to replenish the stocks of the armed forces of the European countries and at the same time to offer material support to Ukraine.
“I am confident that in 12 months, we will be able to increase our production capacity to one million shells per year in Europe”Industry Commissioner Thierry Breton emphasized yesterday Tuesday.
The proposal is the third phase of an action plan approved by the EU at the end of March to provide at least one million 155mm shells to Ukraine within 12 months and replenish the strategic stockpiles of European states, some of which are at their limits.
It foresees funding of 500 million euros, 260 million of which will be drawn from the European Defense Fund. It will enable co-financing of investment by industries to increase production in EU factories.
About fifteen companies in eleven Member States produce ammunition of this type.
The specific industries though “They currently do not have the required production capacity to meet the needs of Ukraine and our member states. But they can all have it”according to Mr Breton, who toured facilities of the EU’s major munitions manufacturers.
“We can and must re-invigorate our industrial base to adapt to the needs of high-intensity conflicts”explained.
“The current pace does not allow to support Ukraine’s war effort, which consumes more (munitions) than the EU produces,” a member state representative told AFP.
The proposal is not intended to meet the immediate needs of Ukraine, which is preparing to launch a counter-offensive to retake territory seized by Russia’s armed forces.
“To support Ukraine in the short term, we must continue to draw on our reserves”said the European commissioner.
Following an appeal by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on February 9, EU member states supplied Ukraine with nearly 40,000 shells and more than a thousand missiles for anti-aircraft and anti-tank weapons, according to information gathered by AFP.
However, this data only concerns the compensation requests that have been submitted by member states, and does not reflect the reality of the deliveries, which is covered by military secrecy, he explains.
A fund of one billion euros is foreseen in the form of compensation for ammunition drawn from the stocks of the armies of member states.
A second fund of one billion euros will be used to co-finance joint purchases of 155 mm shells destined for Ukraine. Orders will be placed in September to industries producing in the EU and Norway.
The sums to be made available are intended for the European Union to obtain autonomy in the production of ammunition and for its industry to obtain the ability to meet the needs of high-intensity conflicts, such as the one in Ukraine. “As for defense, our industries must now go into war economy mode,” insisted Thierry Breton.
The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said yesterday, during her meeting with the president of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel, in Prague – the new president, General H.E., just returned from a visit to Ukraine – that the issue above everything is the “speed” of production, repeating that word three times.
The Commission’s proposal is subject to the approval of the European Council and the European Parliament.
Source: News Beast
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