The EU has opened the way for Ukraine to participate in the 7.3 billion euro defense fund

The European Parliament and the Council of the European Union have agreed on a political decision that paves the way for Ukraine to join the European Defense Fund (EDF) — a program with a budget of over 7.3 billion euros.

This was announced by the European Commission, welcoming the step as another stage in strengthening security cooperation between Ukraine and the European Union.

“This is an important step forward in defense cooperation between the EU and Ukraine, which will contribute to collective security and the sustainability of the European defense industry. It will also bring Ukraine closer to integration into the European Defense Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB),” the European Commission noted.

The agreement became part of a large-scale legislative package that provides for increased defense investment within the EU budget — the so-called “mini-omnibus”.

The new mechanisms are designed to make support for the EU’s defense-industrial programs more flexible, faster and more coordinated, in particular in the areas of military mobility, dual-use technologies and innovation.

Brussels emphasized that this decision will be part of the implementation of the ReArm Europe plan — a strategy to strengthen Europe’s defense capabilities — as well as the Defense Readiness Omnibus, which coordinates the actions of member states in the security sector.

“This is a new milestone in strengthening cooperation between the EU and Ukraine, in particular in the development of joint defense technologies and industrial capabilities,” the European Commission emphasized.

After the official approval of the document by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU, the European Commission will be able to implement changes to the Union’s key programs, ensuring Ukraine’s real access to funding and joint defense projects.

As a reminder, the Council of the European Union has approved the fifth tranche of macro-financial assistance to Ukraine under the Ukraine Facility program in the amount of EUR 1.8 billion. The funds will be allocated to support macroeconomic stability and the smooth functioning of the public administration system.

As reported, the leaders of the European Union countries postponed the decision on the use of frozen Russian assets until December.

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