Brussels, 7 July 2023 (TDI): Negotiators from the European Parliament and the Council have informally agreed on plans to enhance European Union (EU) production of ammunition and missiles to address the current shortage.
The Act in Support of Ammunition Production (ASAP) aims to expedite the delivery of ammunition and missiles to Ukraine while assisting member states in replenishing their arsenals.
Parliament and Council negotiators have informally agreed on plans to increase EU production of ammunition and missiles to address the current shortage.
Press release ↓https://t.co/OJoDzDo4FR
— European Parliament (@Europarl_EN) July 7, 2023
The agreed text includes targeted measures, including €500 million in financing, to increase the EU’s production capacity, specifically focusing on ground-to-ground and artillery ammunition, missiles, and their components.
During negotiations, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) advocated for a lower financing rate to ensure a wider range of projects receive funding, with a higher funding rate allocated for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
MEPs also ensured that the new financing would not divert funds from existing cohesion funding.
Additionally, the legislation stipulates that EU countries must provide Ukraine with the ammunition funded under this legislation, exempt from export restrictions.
Negotiators issued a joint declaration urging the European Commission to promptly propose any necessary initiatives to strengthen the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base. This includes ensuring adequate financing and establishing a legal framework to safeguard supply security and support ammunition production.
Cristian Bușoi, the leader of the EP negotiating team, emphasized the significance of the agreement in bolstering Europe’s security and defense and demonstrating steadfast support for Ukraine amidst ongoing Russian aggression.
Bușoi also hailed the provision of more ammunition for Ukraine as a victory for Europe’s collective security.
The informal agreement now awaits endorsement from both the European Parliament and the Council to become law.
What’s next?
The Industry, Research and Energy Committee is scheduled to vote on the agreement on July 10, followed by a plenary session in the same week.
The ASAP initiative was prompted by Ukraine’s request to the EU for 155 mm-caliber artillery rounds.
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In March 2023, the Council agreed on a three-track proposal on ammunition, which involved member states urgently transferring ammunition from their own stocks to Ukraine (Track 1), jointly procuring 1 million ammunition rounds (Track 2), and ramping up production capacity in the European defense industry (Track 3).
The ASAP directly responds to the Council’s call for urgent ammunition delivery to Ukraine and support for member states in restocking their supplies. The proposed budget for ASAP stands at €500 million.
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