The European Union has reached an agreement on launching a defense investment program worth 1.5 billion euros ($ 1.73 billion). The decision was a response to increasing fears of Europe's security after Russia's full -scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
About it reports the information agency Reuters . It is a European Defense Program (EDIP), which the European Commission has proposed more than a year ago. However, EU Member States took a long time to agree on key conditions-primarily because of disputes over the procurement rules.
France insisted on the strict provisions of "buy European" to support European weapons manufacturers as much as possible. On the other hand, countries such as the Netherlands have been for greater flexibility and opportunity to purchase weapons from partners outside the EU - in particular, in the US and the United Kingdom.
The compromise reached establishes that at least 65% of the value of goods that will be financed within the EDIP should come from the European Union or certain associate countries. The document also provides exceptions that allow some flexibility in emergency situations.
It is expected that on Monday, 27 ambassadors of EU Member States will formally approve an agreement. Thereafter, negotiations with the European Parliament will begin with the final adoption of the program.
Despite the fact that the EDIP budget of 1.5 billion euros is considered quite modest in the scale of the defense industry, the document is strategic. EU officials point out that the success of the program can open the way to its further expansion and increase funding in the future.
A separate group of 10 countries, including Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Bulgaria and Finland, called for a more pragmatic approach, emphasizing the urgent need for urgent strengthening of European defense against the background of threats.
