The EU allocates 500 million to the creation of a platform for the joint purchase of weapons

The European Commission has proposed this Tuesday allocate €500 million from the EU budget to the creation of a platform for the joint purchase of weapons, whose objective is avoid rivalry and duplication between Member States and also lower prices. The platform is a pilot project that will be operational between 2022 and 2024.

The new platform -which tries to imitate the successful experience of vaccines against Covid-19– has priority help European governments to replenish their military arsenal after the massive shipment of weapons to Ukraine to deal with the war in Russia.

The other great military deficiency that the EU must solve as soon as possible refers to the air defense missile systems. In the medium and long term, Brussels proposes a reinforcement of aerial capabilities (medium-sized armed drones, aerial refueling planes and fighter planes); land (armored fighting vehicles and anti-tank systems); or maritime (frigates, submarines and patrol corvettes). In addition, the EU must improve in cyber defense, military mobility and space.

[El “cambio tectónico” de la UE por la guerra de Putin: hacia la independencia militar y energética]

Brussels responds with this initiative to the request made by the Heads of State and Government at the summit held in Versailles in March, after the outbreak of the conflict: examine the bloc’s investment shortfalls and weaknesses in defense matters.

“We are giving a historic step in the integration of European defense. As well as helping to replenish some stocks following the arms transfer to Ukraine, we are creating an incentive through the EU budget for member states to buy together. The defense of Europe is making great strides”, said the Commissioner for Industry, Thierry Breton.

With this initiative, Brussels intends to avoid disputes between member states over the same weapons, guarantee solidarity and avoid an escalation of prices. To receive European money, at least 3 countries must participate and the investment must benefit Community industry.

The proposed regulation must now be approved by both the Governments of the 27 and the European Parliament. The Community Executive hopes that the process will be completed quickly so that the platform can start operating at the end of 2022.

As a direct result of the war in Ukraine, Member States have already announced a Cumulative additional increase of 200,000 million euros in its defense budgets. However, this increase comes after many years of substantial cutbacks. Between 1999 and 2021, the EU’s combined defense investment increased by 20%, compared to 66% for the US, 292% for Russia and 592% for China.