The EU must increase its ammunition production and defence capabilities, while continuing to help Ukraine

The Renew Europe Group in the European Parliament welcomes today’s proposal by the European Commission to establish the Act in Support of Ammunition Production and calls for a fast adoption and implementation by the Parliament and the Member States.

The proposed regulation is aimed to accelerate production of artillery rounds and meet Ukraine's needs to defend itself against Russia’s war of aggression. At the same time, it will help to restore the EU’s shrinking stocks and reinforce the European defence industry.

Renew Europe MEP, Nathalie Loiseau (Délégation l’Europe Ensemble, France), Chair of the Subcommittee on Security and Defence, said:

“The EU must encourage the accelerated production of ammunition, to continue to support Ukraine for as long as necessary and to strengthen its own defence in the medium term, as demanded by European citizens. Our ammunition production industry in Europe is ready to increase the rate of production to 1 million rounds per year, and the Union must make it happen. This is one more step towards a concrete European sovereignty and an opportunity to support jobs for Europeans.”

The Commission proposes to allocate a budget of €500 million in current prices to strengthen the responsiveness and ability of the Union defence industry to ensure the timely supply of ammunition and missiles in Europe. This budget comes from the redeployment of different instruments, in particular the European Defence Fund and the future EDIRPA.

MEP Dominique Riquet (Parti Radical, France), Vice-President of Renew Europe Group and shadow rapporteur on EDIRPA, added:

“This initiative once again shows the Union’s unwavering support to Ukraine in the war of aggression it is victim of. It does so by reinforcing the European defence industry’s capacity, which is the precondition to a more resilient Union, able to protect its citizens and allies.”