Perm Reps Discuss Ukraine Fund; VdL Calls For Major Defence Ramp-Up

Permanent representatives to the EU gather for a meeting at 1000CET (0900GMT) to discuss the Ukraine Defence facility. Politico notes "All eyes will be on any signs of a change in position from Paris on the question of whether the fund’s money can be used to buy weapons or ammunition from outside the EU — something France previously opposed, but which President Emmanuel Macron on Monday signaled he was open to."

• Speaking in a European Parliament plenary debate on EU defence, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen states that the "EU will roughly double ammo production, to over 2mn shells a year by end-2025". Says "The threat of war may not be imminent, but it is not impossible...EU should be prepared for the risks of war...member states need to urgendly rebuild, replenish, and modernise their armed forces...EU needs to turbo-charge defence industrial capacity in the next five years."
• VdL says that "European defence investment programme will prioritise defence joint procurement...Commission will increase support for defence industrial ramp-up, identify defence projects of common interest."
• VdL says that the EU "should consider using the profists of frozen Russian assets to purchase military equipment for Ukraine."
• Macron backing down on allowing non-EU procurement of weapons seen as crucial for ensuring rapid provision to Ukrainian troops on the frontlines. VdL's comments speak of major investment in EU defence sector, but at present unclear where the money will come from, and if there is the political will to commit to an area not seen as a 'vote winner'.