The European arms industry is to be persuaded to rapidly expand production capacities for ammunition with financial incentives amounting to billions of euros. According to a proposal presented by the EU Commission on Wednesday, up to 2025 million euros are to be made available from the EU budget by mid-500. According to the plans, a further 500 million would come from the Member States as co-financing.
The background to the plans is in particular the difficulties of the EU states in supplying Ukraine with sufficient ammunition for the defensive war against Russia. An expansion of production is now intended to prevent further bottlenecks in the Ukrainian armed forces and also to ensure that the EU states themselves remain capable of defending themselves and can keep sufficient supplies.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had already announced the plan on Tuesday evening on the sidelines of a meeting with the new Czech President Petr Pavel in Prague. On Wednesday, it was officially presented by EU Industry Commissioner Thierry Breton.
One million rounds per year
Commenting on the new funding project, the Frenchman said he was confident that production capacities in Europe could be increased to one million shots per year within twelve months. The industrial base for ammunition production in Europe is there and has the potential to meet the needs of Ukraine and member states, he said.
However, the industrial base must now be revived in order to adapt it to the needs of a high-intensity conflict. "When it comes to defense, our industry must now switch to the mode of war economy," Breton said.
The EU member states and the European Parliament must now discuss the EU Commission's proposal. The Commission announced on Wednesday that it will be adopted quickly before the summer.