The EU Plans to Deepen Cooperation with the Defense Industry of Ukraine

• The EU plans to integrate the defense industry with Ukraine.
• A total of 300 million euros have been earmarked to support Ukraine.
• EU countries are considering purchasing military equipment within the bloc.

BRUSSELS — European Union Defense Commissioner Andrea Kubilius stated in an interview that the integration of the defense industry of the bloc with Ukraine is essential, especially as the U.S. peace plan remains uncertain, while Russia's unconventional military operations continue across 27 member countries.

EU lawmakers are expected to propose a program worth 1.5 billion euros (1.7 billion dollars), of which 300 million euros (345 million dollars) are allocated for Ukraine's support instruments.

Kubilius noted that Ukraine's defense industry "needs us," but "we need innovation in the defense sector of Ukraine even more."

He emphasized that granting Ukraine access to the EU's investment program in defense "allows for the purchase of defense equipment in Ukraine, with Ukraine, and for Ukraine."

It is anticipated that EU spending on defense this year will amount to nearly 392 billion euros (over 450 billion dollars), which is almost twice as much as four years ago, prior to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022.

The European Commission believes that it will spend approximately 3.4 trillion euros (4 trillion dollars) on defense in the next decade. To achieve this, it plans to increase the EU defense budget and cosmetics to 131 billion euros (153 billion dollars).

Member states of the EU are recommended to purchase most military materials within the bloc, primarily from European suppliers. Kubilius also stated that companies in the defense industry with the EU can submit applications for tax incentives and other financial stimuli for funding joint defense projects.

Allowing Ukrainian companies to participate in these projects, "we can implement Ukrainian military innovations in the European defense industry."

Last week, the European Commission presented a new defense package that allows to expedite the procurement of tanks and military equipment in Europe, as well as a roadmap for transforming the EU's defense industry, which aims to simplify and unify the regulation of the EU's defense industry.

Tags: Ukraine/Europe/Politics