EU Armattas, European governments adopt 1.5 billion-euro plan

The governments of the European Union have reached an agreement on an EU scheme of 1.5 billion euros to finance defence investments. Governments have debated for more than a year the European Commission's proposal for an Industrial European Defence Programme (EDIP), part of a broader effort to re-armed, caused by fears by Russia following Ukraine's invasion in 2022.

Much of the debate focused on adaptability. France promoted strict rules on European products to promote the European industry, while countries such as the Netherlands argued for more flexibility to buy weapons from the United States, Britain and other countries, writes A2 CNN.

Under the final compromise, at least 65% of the costs of the components of a schema-funded article must have originated in the EU or in some linked countries, with certain exceptions. Ambassadors from the 27 EU nations are expected to approve the agreement Monday, diplomats said on condition of anonymity. Later, it will be the subject of negotiations with the European Parliament before it takes effect, Reuters quoted.

A group of 10 countries -- the Netherlands, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Slovakia and Finland -- argued that the rules should have taken more into account an urgent need to strengthen Europe's defence.

They said the EU defence industry “also depends especially on the short and medium-term ones from critical components, technologies and knowledge from third countries with the same opinions, in particular the transatlantic allies”. Despite their objections, the countries said they did not want to prevent the start of negotiations with the European Parliament./Periscopi/