Debates

Monday, 8 May 2023 - Strasbourg

Establishing the Act in support of ammunition production (debate)

  Henna Virkkunen (PPE). – Mr President, Commissioner, the whole of Europe must urgently increase investments in defence. Ukraine deserves all our help, including heavy weapons and ammunition. Member States have committed to supply 1 million rounds of ammunition in 12 months. For this, we need to ramp up European ammunition production.

For decades, many European Member States have disregarded defence spending. Russia’s war of aggression on Ukraine has made it painfully clear how much European defence spending is falling behind others – the USA and especially Russia and China. The act in support of ammunition production (ASAP) presented by the Commission is well needed. Member States have already announced increases in their defence budgets with an additional EUR 200 billion in the coming years.

It is clear that we need a new, more coordinated EU approach here. It is also important to increase investments in defence research and development and military mobility, and these should be taken into consideration in the upcoming mid—term review of the MFF.