An extra EU Summit on Thursday will discuss supporting Ukraine and strengthening European defense.
The pressure to increase European support for Ukraine has increased even further since the United States announced that it would suspend the weapon aid for Ukraine.
The new support package for Ukraine has been prepared by at least a high representative of EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas. Last week, Kallas stated that the details of the package, such as numbers, are to be discussed among EU leaders.
The results of the summit will be recorded as conclusions that will only be resolved after the meeting. However, they are prepared in advance.
There is no mention of the magnitude or concrete numbers of the additional support package planned for Ukraine on Wednesday and on Tuesday’s draft dated Tuesday. The various sources of civil servants in the EU have also confirmed that no agreement has been found in the numbers.
Instead, the Paper states that the European Council welcomes the ability of Member States to increase the number of weapon aid given to Ukraine, such as ammunition, anti-aircraft equipment and missiles, in an urgent amount.
-The European Council promotes promotion of the initiative of the Union’s external and security policy, in particular, to coordinate EU military support for Ukraine, sketch paper states.
There have been different sketches of the meeting concludes, and the version of STT previously saw no mention of the Kallas package. Now, however, it is found what a high-ranking official himself described as a positive thing.
At least Hungary has suggested opposition to the package.
Organizing an extraordinary summit in some EU official machinery has raised concern that organizing a meeting without significant decisions could lead to a launch and expectation while Europe lives in critical moments.
The EU ready to support more
However, a high-ranking EU official denied Wednesday that the meeting would lack concrete initiatives to support Ukraine. The official stated that even if there were no exact amounts on the paper, the EU undertakes to support Ukraine as part of the meeting and “bring more to the table”.
The paper also contains a mention of the previously agreed aid of over EUR 30 billion for Ukraine for this year.
It is also the idea that discussions on the subject can be continued at the summit in two weeks.
The details of security guarantees open
The draft meeting concludes a stand on the security guarantees to be given to Ukraine. Based on the draft, EU countries are ready to help Ukraine’s security guarantees according to the abilities and capacity of Member States.
Security guarantees offered to Ukraine would be carried out, taking into account the lines and security interests of Member States. In addition, it is noted that every possible peace agreement must include credible and strong security guarantees to Ukraine.
More detailed information on security guarantees is not clear.
On Wednesday, a high-ranking EU official estimates that more detailed debate has not yet been taken in detail within the EU. The reason is that no peace agreement or presentation is on the table yet.
EUR 800 billion for EU defense
EU Commission Chairman Ursula von der Leyenin At the Thursday meeting, it is scheduled to be presented on Tuesday to act on the so -called European re -relaxation plan.
This is a five paragraph plan to finance European defense investments. Von der Leyen has estimated that the plan could mobilize nearly EUR 800 billion to strengthen European defense.
The package includes, among other things, the new EUR 150 billion loan funding instrument for defense procurement. For example, the instrument should fund the strengthening of air defense and artillery systems through joint procurement.
Von der Leyen has also suggested that Member States could, if they so wish, use cohesion money for defense. We also want to accelerate private investments through the European Investment Bank and other private funding.
The European Investment Bank’s ability to finance defense projects is currently limited. For example, the bank cannot participate directly in production projects. Finland is a prime minister Petteri Orpo (co.) Under the leadership, an initiative to strengthen the role of EIP to finance defense and expand its financial rules.
The EU Commission is also expected to publish later in March, the so-called white book of defense, which is expected to define the future needs of the European defense.