Subscribe here: https://bit.ly/eudebates The European Defence Agency (EDA) has outlined 22 priorities for the development of European defence capabilities in light of the experience gained during Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The EDA emphasises that the priorities reflect the military realities observed in Ukraine, contribute to EU defence objectives, and are designed to "lead to the implementation of concrete projects", following continual underfunding and insufficient European cooperation in the field of defence.
The 22 EU defence policy priorities comprise 14 priorities in five military areas and 8 priorities related to strategic enablers and multipliers.
They include a call for mobile and technologically compatible ground forces, the need for integrated air and missile defence, the modernisation and development of battle tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and armoured personnel carriers, as well as means of countering drones.
The EDA emphasises separately that the full-scale war against Ukraine underscores the urgent need to improve the military mobility of forces in the EU and beyond, and to put an end to the lack of military intelligence, including the use of drones.
The priorities also involve strengthening interoperability and improving joint response between civilian and military services in the context of preventing attacks on underwater infrastructure.
Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba earlier reported that the European Union will not be able to carry out its plan to supply one million rounds of artillery to Ukraine by March 2024 due to the state of defence production and bureaucratic obstacles.
Josep Borrell, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said at a meeting with the defence ministers of the member states that they will examine the situation surrounding ammunition production to support Ukraine and find ways of increasing supplies.
European Union nations have acknowledged a promise to Ukraine to provide 1 million rounds of ammunition to the front line by early 2024 will not be met. The EU made the announcement with much fanfare earlier this year, but Germany's German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has thrown cold water on the promise.
"The 1 million will not be reached, you have to assume that," German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said.
After a Tuesday meeting of EU defence and foreign affairs ministers in Brussels, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell also cast doubt on the goal.
"So maybe by March we will not have the 1 million shots," Mr Borrell said.
Estonia's Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur, said it was crucial to ramp up supply of the ammunition.
"Look at Russia. They are producing today more than ever. They are getting shells from North Korea. Europe cannot say that … 'Russia and North Korea can deliver and we cannot,'" he said.
Some 300,000 rounds have been delivered from existing stocks in the EU so far. With the rest becoming increasingly elusive to source, Latvian Defence Minister Andris Spruds insisted the original target should not be taken too literally.
"Well, of course, 1 million rounds are symbolic. I think aspiration and ambition is important," he said.
In Ukraine's war with Russia, 155mm artillery rounds play a pivotal role. The daily consumption of 6,000 to 7,000 shells highlights its strategic importance.
Acquiring 1 million shells could secure stability for Ukraine for at least half a year, providing a substantial advantage in sustained operations and flexibility on the battlefield, observers said.
EU Commissioner Thierry Breton insisted the industry production target of 1 million rounds could be met "but it is now upon member states to place their orders".
However, EU members put the blame on producers.
"We have all signed contracts. We've done joint procurement. So industry now has to deliver. It has to step up its game to produce more," Dutch Defence Minister Kajsa Ollongren said.
One way to get more ammunition, according to foreign policy chief Borrell, is to redirect current EU exports and prioritise Ukraine.
"About 40 per cent of the production is being exported to third countries," he said. "So maybe what we have to do is to try to shift this production to the priority one, which is the Ukrainians."
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