With the fund of originally 5.7 billion euros, the so-called European peace facility, the EU should actually be able to do this for seven years (until 2027). But since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, 3.6 billion has already been used to send arms to that country. The end of the war is not in sight and Ukraine will need much more, we hear, while the EU also wants to help other countries, for example in the fight against jihadists. EU countries contributed 2 billion at the end of last year, but it will likely be immediately spent on munitions Ukraine desperately needs.
Victim
The fund is “a victim of its own success,” says a senior EU diplomat. The EU Foreign Service therefore believes that the time is ripe for an additional effort. Borrell previously said EU leaders, who have called another summit in two weeks’ time, should consider it.
The Netherlands had previously hinted that they would support investing the extra cash. With the proposed increase, it should contribute a total of around 200 million euros more.
Expenses reimbursed
The EU itself does not supply Ukraine with weapons and other supplies for the fight, but reimburses the costs of the member states. After arms deliveries, they can declare the costs they have incurred at the ‘peace facility’.
The war in Ukraine has ended in a battle of attrition and the country risks losing it if its allies do not quickly send in more ammunition, especially artillery shells for, for example, Dutch and German armored howitzers. EU countries are considering releasing 1 billion from the fund for member states that can supply Ukraine with some of those grenades from their arsenals. Since about half of that is reimbursed, that would be good for almost 2 billion pieces of artillery ammunition. They are considering using another $1 billion from the peace facility for additional joint procurement.