EU's Final Coordination on 'Joint Ammunition Procurement Plan for Ukraine'

Josep Borrell, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The European Union (EU) is expected to announce a joint procurement plan for rapid ammunition support to Ukraine as early as the 20th (local time).

According to the EU, foreign and defense ministers will discuss ways to support Ukraine and replenish EU weapons stockpiles at a meeting chaired by Josep Borrell, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, on the 20th. At this meeting, High Representative Borrell will discuss the use of the European Peace Facility (EPF) in relation to the joint ammunition procurement proposal recently put forward by Estonia to EU member states.

Earlier, Estonia pointed out that with Russia firing 20,000 to 60,000 shells per day, it would take four years to procure all the ammunition Ukraine needs if the EU maintains its current support methods. Estonia urged the EU to invest 4 billion euros to procure 1 million 155mm shells that Ukraine requires this year and proposed raising these funds through the EPF. Based on Estonia's proposal, the EU is reportedly preparing a plan to jointly purchase ammunition using about 2 billion euros (2.8 trillion won) from the EPF.

Of the 2 billion euros, 1 billion euros will be used to pay member states that deliver existing ammunition stockpiles or ongoing purchase contracts to Ukraine, and the remaining 1 billion euros is planned to be used by member states to jointly purchase ammunition and send it to Ukraine. Consensus has already been reached among member states on utilizing the 2 billion euros from the EPF fund itself.

However, there are disagreements over the detailed methods of using the fund, mainly among some member states. France and Greece, among others, argue that since the EPF is a fund created by contributions from EU member states, contracts should be limited to EU or Europe-based defense companies only.

On the other hand, other member states argue that because the EU's domestic defense industry has limited production capacity, contracts with defense companies from third countries should also be allowed. It appears that the participation of Norway, which is not an EU member state, in the joint procurement discussions is also being taken into consideration.

High Representative Borrell is expected to hold a press conference late in the afternoon on the 20th to announce the specific joint procurement plan. If an agreement is reached, the support plan will be finalized at the EU summit scheduled for the 23rd to 24th.