English Section

17 EU states, Norway agree to jointly buy ammunition for Ukraine

20.03.2023 23:00
Seventeen European Union countries and Norway have agreed to jointly buy ammunition for Ukraine and to replenish their own stockpiles, the European Defence Agency announced on Monday.
Audio
  • 17 EU states, Norway agree to jointly buy ammunition for Ukraine
Photo:
Photo:Wolfgang Schwan/Anadolu Agency/ABACAPRESS.COM via PAP

"The project opens the way for EU Member States and Norway to proceed along two paths: a two-year, fast-track procedure for 155mm artillery rounds and a seven-year project to acquire multiple ammunition types," the agency said in a statement.

The countries signed a so-called project arrangement, setting out the terms of reference for their joint procurement effort, the Reuters news agency reported.

The document is a precursor to starting talks with industry with the aim of signing contracts, according to Reuters.

"Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden and Norway have signed," the European Defence Agency said.

"More Member States have already expressed their intent to join the initiative soon following national procedures," it added.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, who heads the European Defence Agency, said: “Today, we take a step forward. We are delivering on our promises to provide Ukraine with more artillery ammunition."

Borrell added: "With today’s signature, 18 countries have signed up to aggregate orders and place them together with the industry through the European Defence Agency.”

Monday is day 390 of Russias war in Ukraine.

(gs)

Source: IAR, PAP, Reuters, eda.europa.eu