After their informal meeting in Toledo, Spain, the EU defense ministers draw a mixed balance. The Baltic states have criticized hesitant aid to Ukraine. The coups in Gabon and Niger were also discussed. Next up are the foreign ministers.
Too little, too late, too hesitant – criticism of the supply of ammunition for Ukraine has come primarily from the Baltic states. The EU had promised a million artillery and anti-aircraft shells within a year – but it is still a long way off. “We could all do more, we could all be better,” says Latvian Defense Minister Inara Murniece.
Her Estonian counterpart Hanno Pevkur points out that the EU has actually delivered less than a quarter of the ammunition promised. He calls on the member states to scour their own stockpiles, modernize old bullets and buy from third countries. “Otherwise more people will lose their lives in Ukraine.”
Internal Market Commissioner “confident”
Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton is clearly more optimistic. He believes that the EU will achieve the goal it has set itself. Also thanks to a new funding program for armaments companies, which is intended to boost the expansion of production capacities. Europe must be able to produce more than a million bullets every year – also to replenish its own stocks.
“We are in the process of deciding on requests from member states and I am confident that we can drastically scale up capacity and deliver on our commitments to Ukraine,” Breton said. The Netherlands and Romania want to start training Ukrainian pilots soon so that the promised F 16 fighter planes can be deployed as quickly as possible.
Borrell plans more grants
Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren mentions that the Netherlands and Romania have signed an agreement with the armaments company Lockheed Martin. This could start the training of pilots and maintenance personnel in a Romanian training center. “This is a concrete step by the European F-16 coalition to strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses,” Ollongren said.
In order to be able to guarantee Ukraine lasting support, EU chief diplomat Josep Borrell wants to increase the European Peace Fund, which finances a large part of the arms deliveries and training missions. He is thinking of up to 20 billion euros extra over the next four years so that the help can continue. “Now, after the war, to rebuild and to guarantee Ukraine’s security.”
Germany, France and other countries have signaled their support in principle. In times of tight budgets, however, it still has to be clarified where the money is to come from in detail. Among other things, it would be conceivable to reallocate funds from the regular budget.
It is also unclear whether Hungary will support the increase. The country has long blocked the payment of 500 million euros to Ukraine because Kiev runs a major Hungarian bank as a war supporter. The rest of the EU has little sympathy for Viktor Orban’s government. Hungary, too, must understand, says Estonia’s Defense Minister Pevkur, “that this war is crucial for the future of Europe’s security.”
worry about security situation in Africa
The EU is worried about the military coups in Africa. Borrell fears that the army’s takeover of power in Gabon will further increase the region’s instability. Sanctions are being discussed against the military leadership in Niger and its supporters. A corresponding Franco-German initiative could be officially launched on Thursday at the meeting of EU foreign ministers.