RAP: France blocks EU decision to fund supply of ammunition to Ukraine
France is blocking the EU’s decision to finance the supply of ammunition to Ukraine. This was reported by the Polish agency PAP, referring to the words of a high-ranking source in EU structures. In the meantime, the decision requires unanimity on this issue.
France, according to the source, wants refinancing to be possible not only in the case of ammunition, but also missiles. “Even in a situation where Ukraine does not request such missiles,” the report said.
The decision to finance the supply of ammunition to Ukraine was taken in March at the EU summit in Brussels. It is planned to allocate 2 billion euros from the European Peace Fund for these purposes. First of all, we are talking about artillery shells of large calibers.
Of the agreed amount of 2 billion euros, half should be used to reimburse the supply of ammunition to the depots of EU members. But there are not enough shells in these warehouses now, and a proposal has appeared to buy ammunition outside the EU. France opposed it, according to the report.
The distribution of the second billion euros, which should be allocated to joint orders for ammunition in European industry (in Poland, France and Germany), is also in question. The French before the Easter holidays blocked the EU’s decision on the second billion euros. The draft stipulated that ammunition should only be reimbursed based on actual demand. But Paris, according to the source, wants to delete this entry.
As the agency’s documentation notes, arms lobbying firms could be hiding behind France’s decision. That is, Paris wants to create a mechanism for forced control of certain equipment, while Ukraine may not need it, writes PAP.
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