Written by Bruno Bilquin.
Over 20 months after the start of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the European Union has so far earmarked €12 billion (in current prices) from the European Peace Facility (EPF), itself funded by the Member States, in military aid for Ukraine. Set up before the launch of Russia’s war on Ukraine, the EPF was initially intended to finance military assistance worldwide, with a particular focus on Africa. The EU has directed EPF-funded support to partner countries’ armies, to military components of missions led by other international organisations and to the EU’s own military missions and operations.
The EPF allows the EU to fund military equipment and training provided by EU Member States, including with lethal components – a first in EU history. Member States can submit requests for reimbursement from the EPF for the equipment they deliver. The common costs of EU military missions abroad (or within the EU in the exceptional case of the EU Military Assistance Mission for Ukraine) are also covered by the EPF’s operations pillar. EU military missions and operations, and a number of military missions of other international organisations, may also receive funding through the EPF’s assistance pillar.
Ukraine’s military needs have risen well above the EPF’s initial ceiling of €5.5 billion (in current prices), while other strategic EU neighbourhood and global areas may also need EPF funds. The EU Council has therefore adopted two top-ups, a first of €2.5 billion in March 2023, and a second of €4 billion in June 2023. According to experts, however, given rising geopolitical tensions, these remain below the amounts Ukraine needs to face and win a war of attrition. In July 2023, the EU High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy presented a plan for a €20 billion envelope to be set aside for Ukraine within the EPF. The continued use of the EPF to support Ukraine also raises questions regarding for which equipment and what training Member States may be reimbursed, and related debates regarding the delivery of fighter jets to Ukraine and the training of future Ukrainian F‑16 pilots. The European Parliament continues to support the use of the EPF in Ukraine and beyond, increasing its ceiling, and calls for better oversight of the EPF, as well as for a separate Ukraine envelope within the EPF.
Read the complete briefing on ‘European Peace Facility: State of play on 30 November 2023‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.
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