Subject: Financial arrangements of the European Peace Facility
Council Decision (CFSP) 2021/509 of 22 March 2021 established the European Peace Facility to provide for a financing mechanism for EU operations having military implications under the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). This Council Decision sets the financial ceiling for the Facility at EUR 5 billion for the period 2021-2027. A large part of this has already been allocated, with support to Ukraine representing a significant share of this. Expenditure under the Facility is to be audited by a College of Auditors, whose members will be appointed on a proposal from the Member States. The Facility differs from its predecessors in that it has a global geographic scope. This is also in line with the 360° orientation for CSDP, as stated in the Strategic Compass.
1. How will the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy ensure the 360° orientation of CSDP and the global geographic scope of the European Peace Facility, so that support to countries other than Ukraine is not at the expense of support to Ukraine?
2. Does the Vice-President / High Representative consider it necessary to adjust the budgetary ceiling, given that the European Parliament has recently called for it to be further increased?
Submitted: 8.11.2022
Answer given by High Representative/Vice-President Borrell i Fontelles on behalf of the European Commission (6 December 2022)
1. The EU’s current focus on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine does not mean that any less attention is paid to other parts of the world. The European Peace Facility (EPF) continues to have a global geographic scope. EU’s commitment to partners in the immediate neighbourhood, in Africa, as well as other regions remains strong. The Union’s help for Ukraine does not replace this commitment. Following the initial package of support worth EUR 130 million in 2021 covering the period of transition between the African Peace Facility and the EPF during the second half of 2021, an EPF assistance measure taking the form of a general programme for support to the African Union (AU), amounting to EUR 600 million for the period 2022-2024, was established. Beyond the general programme for support to the AU, the EU provided bilateral support to a number of African partners. Partners in the Eastern Neighbourhood and in the Western Balkans are also benefitting substantially from the EPF assistance.
2. The EPF has been very successful so far. It is vital that it remains viable and sustainable. Member States have started an important debate to deal with the question of the overall financial ceiling of the EPF . All Member States are determined to ensure that the EPF has sufficient funds to continue to support Ukraine and fulfil EU’s global commitments as a reliable security provider.