Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (co.) He thinks that Finland should take out a loan offered by the Commission for defense investments because the interest rate is low.
BRUSSELS The high representative of the EU foreign and security policy Kaja Kallas During the EU summit, he provided support for Ukraine worth EUR 20-40 billion. However, the presentation did not receive enough support at the meeting.
Prime minister Petteri Orpo (co.) After the meeting, the smaller support progressed.
– At the initiative of Kallas, a five billion share, or two million projectile, is now being realized.
According to him, there is still an attempt to promote the big package of Kallas. It would include the so-called coalition of willing countries, or other EU countries.
In particular, large countries in France, Spain and Italy were suspicious of the determination of the fees based on the size of the economy as the shares are high.
– This may have come to the table a little too fast and requires further preparation. The will is widely that solutions need to be found, Orpo thought.
To date, Finland and other Nordic countries, the Baltic countries and Poland have been more supported by Ukraine in relation to the size of the economies.
If the size of the package remains around EUR 20 billion, Finland has already given or at least prepared for the Ukraine this year, or at least prepared for it. Greater support would require new decisions.
– For Finland, military support for Ukraine quickly is such a strong priority that we are looking for solutions for it.
Orpo wants Ukraine in the EU 2030
According to Orpo, the stiffness of the aid decision does not pour Ukraine, as the situation on the front is better than was thought to be a short time.
– No collapse is happening in the front. Ukraine can defend themselves.
He reminded that the payment of the previously promised EUR 25 billion to Ukraine will be brought forward.
It was again recorded in the decisions of the meeting that the EU supports Ukraine militarily and financially, so that it would have the most solid position in peace negotiations. The paper was signed by 26 Member States without Hungary, which regularly opposes support for Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi highlighted Ukraine’s EU membership. According to Orpo, the goal should be 2030.
– At the moment, Ukraine has accomplished everything they have been asked for on schedule in the middle of the war, and it is really appreciated, it tells about their commitment, and therefore one should move forward.
On Wednesday, the EU Commission published the defense policies in the next few years, the so-called white book. Orpo is pleased that the reason for strengthening European defense is clearly the threat of Russia. Another reason is the declining role of the United States in European defense.
– Since the threat of Russia, the eastern border and the eastern regions, and the land fighting troops we drive and their performance needs from the artillery.
In the south threaten to terrorism
However, there were various estimates of the threats at the meeting.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro sánchez He said when he came to the meeting that he does not like the name of the defense funding package, which re -arrangements for Europe (Rearm Europe Plan). According to him, the EU must emphasize soft power.
Like the southern countries, he emphasized the threat of terrorism, the challenges of border control and the cyber threats, and demanded attention to fighting them.
Chairman of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen At the news conference, he also stated that the focus also includes, for example, combating cyber threats.
He said that the program has another name for 2030.
According to Orpo, Sánchezka did not disagree with Russia’s threat.
– When you go south and western, the threat of war or the teachings of history is not the same as ours. In the southernmost countries, military rhetoric is alienated.
The Commission will take out a loan of EUR 150 billion from the market, where countries can apply for loans for defense joint projects.
Orpo thinks that Finland should take out a loan because the Commission will get a loan at a lower cost than Finland. Thus, the interest rate on the loan is affordable for Finland.
The Commission’s policies are intended to increase joint acquisitions of Member States and place orders within the EU. Dependence from the United States is to be reduced.
However, according to Orpo, the limitation of purchases to the EU has its limits.
– At least Finland has always worked so that we are looking for the best in the world. Or money and quality both are considered at the same time as purchases.