Use of funds from the European Peace Facility

Subject: Use of funds from the European Peace Facility

On 23 May 2022, the European Council adopted two assistance measures under the European Peace Facility (EPF), bringing the total support for the purchase and supply of weapons to the Ukrainian Armed Forces to EUR 2 billion. This amount is four times higher than that agreed at the Council meeting of 28 February and 3.7 times higher than that stated in European Council Decision 2021/509 of 22 March 2021.

In view of this:

1. Is this EUR 2 billion included in the total budget of the EPF (which, I would point out, had a total budget of EUR 5.7 billion up until 2027, broken down into annual allocations) or does this sum come on top of other budget headings/funds?

2. Is its immediate mobilisation having an impact on Member States’ budgets, specifically their ability to provide social services and carry out public investment?

3. Where do the weapons purchased through the EPF come from?

Reply

(3 October 2022)

The overall financial reference amount intended to cover the expenditure related to the Assistance Measures in support of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, established by the relevant Council Decisions (1), is included in the overall financial ceiling of the European Peace Facility (EPF), as set out in Annex I to Council Decision (CFSP) 2021/509 of 22 March 2021 establishing a European Peace Facility and repealing Decision (CFSP) 2015/528.

Member States generate their contributions to the EPF in accordance with their internal budgetary procedures.

Equipment is not purchased through the EPF, but is provided by Member States, which can receive partial reimbursement from the EPF budget. Whether Member States provide such equipment from existing stocks or purchase new equipment for this purpose is a matter for them.

The information requested by the Honourable Member under sub-questions 2 and 3 is not available to the Council.

⋅1∙ Council Decision (CFSP) 2022/809 of 23 May 2022 amending Decision (CFSP) 2022/338 on an assistance measure under the European Peace Facility for the supply

to the Ukrainian Armed Forces of military equipment, and platforms, designed to deliver lethal force, OJ L 145, 24.5.2022, p. 40; Council Decision (CFSP) 2022/810 of 23 May 2022 amending Decision (CFSP) 2022/339 on an assistance measure under the European Peace Facility to support the Ukrainian Armed Forces, OJ L 145, 24.5.2022, p. 42.