We start the week with the Defence Ministers’ meeting.
First, we have the European Defence Agency Steering Board, where we discuss the EU defence readiness report. As you recall, this was required by the leaders to present such a report. What it shows? It shows the things that we have already done. We have done a lot. The investment in defence has increased, but at the same time, we have big defence capability gaps, and now we should focus on how we actually fill those gaps.
Then we discuss our support to Ukraine. As you have seen, there have been attacks again on civilians. So, Ukraine urgently needs air defence. We are making this plea again that those who have them in stock – how they can give it to Ukraine, so that the Patriot missiles that are produced then later on will be filling their stocks. Clearly, now we have the EPF finally unblocked. There is also the [€] 1 billion that goes to joint procurement because we really need to push Member States to work together. Also, those Member States who have funds to receive, many have already declared that they will give it to Ukraine.
And then we will also discuss situation in the Middle East, especially our naval operations in the region. We have Operation ASPIDES, but it really requires more naval assets to be operational. The need is bigger than it is ever been. We have a lot of requests for escorting the ships, but we need naval assets that can also do that.