EU boosts ammunition production, setting to reach 1 mln per year – European commissioner
Over the past few months, the European Union has greatly ramped up ammunition production and plans to reach 1 million projectiles annually by March of this year and 2 million by 2025. However, due to the sensitive nature of this information during times of war, only Volodymyr Zelensky knows how many shells Ukraine has received.
The European Commissioner for Internal Trade and Services, Thierry Breton, stated this in Washington during a discussion under the auspices of the Atlantic Council,
"How much will we supply for Ukraine? We have to be careful with these numbers. I can talk about production capacity, but to give numbers about how much was supplied during the war is risky because it is sensitive information that can be used… There are two ways of delivering ammunition to Ukraine: through the European Peace Fund and bilateral supplies at the level of individual countries. So only these countries can say what they think is possible. The only person who knows how many (shells – ed.) Ukraine received from Europe, there is Volodymyr Zelensky," said the European commissioner.
He noted that the European defense industry is very powerful and is critical in solving new security challenges related to Russian aggression. According to Breton, Europe can produce any type of equipment in countries across the continent, from north to south and in the east.
In Eastern Europe, the countries that recently joined the EU inherited a solid industrial base from the time of the former USSR, which is now being modernized and brought to common standards.
"It is important to me that we increase production by the end of March. I have committed to increase the production of 155-mm and 152-mm ammunition to 1 million per year. And we will do it. We have the ASAP program (collective order of ammunition – ed .) and are actively working with the European Parliament and the Council of the EU. We currently have 82 tenders, from which we will select from 20 to 30. After the implementation of ASAP, this will be much more than the US produces. In 2025, we will reach 2 million (projectiles ). We understand the numbers coming from Russia and should get at least as much production capacity," Breton said.
He noted that he visited almost all production sites in the EU to increase the capabilities of the European defense industry, eliminate "bottlenecks," and develop a defense partnership involving the governments of all 27 EU countries, starting, above all, with the production of munitions, which Ukraine much needs.
At the same time, as the European commissioner noted, about 40% of European defense production is directed outside of Europe. In this sense, European manufacturers should review the priorities of supplies in accordance with needs.
"We are approaching two years since Russia launched a brutal war of aggression against Ukraine. During this devastating war, the people of Ukraine have shown remarkable resilience. The EU and the US have clarified that Ukraine is our priority… Ukraine will remain our priority as long as necessary. We will do everything necessary to support Ukraine and to increase our collective security in the EU," the European Commissioner emphasized.
He noted that since the beginning of the Russian invasion, the EU and its member states have provided humanitarian, financial, and military support to Ukraine in the amount of almost 85 billion euros, or 92 billion dollars.
The EU may approve a new financial aid package worth 50 billion euros for Ukraine until 2027 soon. Breton noted that work on the package continues but expressed confidence that EU leaders will agree on the package during the February 1 summit.
For reference:
The procurement plan provided for allocating 1 billion euros for compensation of supplies to member states, another 1 billion for joint procurement of ammunition, and increased production capacity in the EU.
As reported, in September, the European Defense Agency signed eight contracts with industry for the joint purchase of 155-mm ammunition for Ukraine.
It was also reported that the USA is trying to increase the supply of 155-mm ammunition, which is critical for Ukraine. They concluded an agreement on the supply of 155-mm ammunition to Ukraine with Bulgaria and South Korea.
On November 14, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius admitted that the European Union could not provide Ukraine with one million artillery shells by March 2024. This was also reported by the Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dmytro Kuleba.
Currently, the European side does not announce how much of this ammunition Ukraine will receive and when.
