We just concluded a good meeting of European Defence Ministers.
This morning we started with the European Defence Agency steering board and approved also the next phase for strengthening the European Defence Agency.
It allows EDA to increase joint procurement and focus more on defence innovation, as well as helping EU countries develop capabilities together. This is what we are pushing for. We also discussed the first ever annual defence readiness report that provides a comprehensive picture of Europe’s defence readiness. Without pre-empting its content, let me just say that Europe needs to rearm more quickly and more effectively to meet our target of 2030. Europe needs a decisive change in the scale and pace of defence investment, capability development, innovation, and industrial capacity.
On Ukraine, Member States agreed on the distribution of the €6.6 billion European Peace Facility funds. The EPF has been one of the EU’s central lines of assistance. As next step, I am discussing with Member States how to top up the EPF with new money, including after the end of the current EPF cycle.
Air defence remains the key priority for Ukraine. We see the attacks every day. Ukraine’s Defence Minister Khmara made this very clear again.
We have already approved procurement plans worth of €28.3 billion under the Ukraine Support Loan, and these include purchases of Patriot missiles from future U.S. production. However, missile production takes time, and Kyiv needs Patriots now.
One option is for Member States and partners to supply missiles from their own stocks to Ukraine in exchange for later replacements financed by Ukraine Support Loan.
Member States also addressed Ukraine’s financing needs. Many today called for front-loading parts of the €90 billion loan allocated for 2027. Ukraine could also benefit from up to €20 billion of remaining funds under the SAFE defence initiative.
On training, Member States agreed on the first step of strategic review of EUMAM, extending our mission for Ukraine for another two years. We will also move ahead with establishing a coordination cell in Kyiv, focusing on the battlefield lessons and strengthening also military education.
Earlier this year, I proposed financing the modernisation of two training centres in Ukraine, and I also want to thank the Netherlands for its contribution that was announced today that actually closes the gap that we had in financing. With this support and the support of Germany, Ireland, Denmark, and Luxembourg, we can now move on with both sides of these training centres.
To stop Russia’s war, we must further reduce Moscow’s capacity to fund it, including through its shadow fleets. EU naval operation IRINI has now conducted six boardings of suspected vessels in recent months, making it the lead actor in boarding operations. National boarding operations should continue in parallel, and we must coordinate closely. We use the existing legal framework under UNCLOS to inspect and seize vessels.
Russia’s sustained act of sabotage, arson, and airspace violations persist. On the EU side, sanctions against perpetrators and the expulsion of Russian diplomats spiked. But we need to look into what more can we do. Ministers had a first chance to exchange views on the idea of a new emergency security protocol. Such a mechanism would provide a coordination mechanism to respond [to] grey zone attacks and complement Article 42.7 of today. And, of course, to reiterate, this is complementing NATO and providing EU with firmer response to Russia’s hybrid attacks.
Freedom of navigation was also again on the agenda. The Strait of Hormuz, the Bab el-Mandeb, but also the Black Sea are critical maritime choke points whose disruption spreads far beyond these regions. In the Red Sea, Houthi advances have put shipping routes at greater risk, and Operation ASPIDES helps to keep its vital waterway open. But we need to boost its numbers to make it more effective. If we give a mission a task, we must give it the means.
Finally, Ministers formally extended the mandates of EUBAM Rafah and EUPOL COPPS.
We will continue supporting border management, Palestinian policing and justice, because effective institutions are essential for the two-state solution, and these missions help to build them. Thank you.