EU Funds Ukraine War Effort with €1 Billion from European Peace Facility
Posted on 03/24/2022
The European Council adopted two assistance measures under the European Peace Facility (EPF) that will allow the EU to further support the capabilities and resilience of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to defend the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country, and protect the civilian population against the ongoing Russian military aggression.
The assistance measures will increase the original budget announced on February 28, 2020 with an additional €500 million, thereby doubling its initial amount to €1 billion. The European Peace Facility is an off-budget instrument that enhances the EU’s ability to act as a global security provider. The European Peace Facility (EPF)Search for available translations of the preceding was established by Council Decision (CFSP) 2021/509 of 22 March 2021Search for available translations of the preceding on the basis of Articles 30(1) and 41(2) of the Treaty on European Union (TEU). The Facility replaces the Athena mechanism and the African Peace Facility, which have ceased to exist, and has a global geographical reach. It has a total budget of €5.69 billion in current prices (€5 billion in 2018 prices) for the period 2021-2027, with annual ceilings from €420 million in 2021 to €1.132 billion in 2027.
The EU says, “Russia, and its accomplice Belarus, bear full responsibility for this war of aggression and those responsible will be held to account for their crimes, including for indiscriminately targeting civilians and civilian objects.
The European Union demands that Russia ceases its military action and withdraws all forces and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine immediately and unconditionally, and fully respects Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence within its internationally recognised borders.”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz addressed his parliament earlier on the Ukraine crisis. Scholz said sanctions against Russia were beginning to work and would be increased. Germany has also been sending anti-tank weapons to Ukraine.
