EU defence stockpiles ‘almost empty’, Borrell warns

Defence investments in Europe are rising however stockpiles are “nearly empty” and important defence capabilities are missing, the European Union’s high diplomat mentioned on Thursday.

“The conflict in Ukraine has been a brutal wake-up name for many people,” Josep Borrell instructed individuals gathered in Brussels for the discharge of the European Defence Company (EDA)’s annual spending report.

“For years we have now been under-investing and this has meant that our stockpiles have been shortly depleted as a consequence of the truth that we’re offering them to Ukraine,” he mentioned.

“After we present army assist to Ukraine, this army assist does not come from the manufacturing facility, (it) comes from the shares, the military shares. And all people agrees that this stockpile has been shortly depleted as a result of they had been nearly empty.”

Borrell added that the EU additionally lacks important defence capabilities to defend itself.

In accordance to the EDA’s report, EU international locations spent a mixed €214 billion on defence in 2021, crossing the €200 billion threshold for the primary time ever following a 6% year-on-year improve.

Nonetheless, this amounted to only 1.5% of Gross Home Product (GDP) — beneath the goal of two%.

Borrell welcomed the truth that defence funding — which pertains to the procurement of defence gear — grew by 16% to a complete of €52 billion.

“€1 out of (each) €4 goes to new capabilities and it’s rising in a short time. For the third yr in a row, we collectively met and exceeded the 20% benchmark,” he mentioned.

Spending on defence analysis and know-how in the meantime elevated by 41% yr on yr to €3.6 billion whereas expenditure on analysis and improvement reached €9 billion in 2021, up by nearly 20% in comparison with 2020.

Collaborative defence gear procurement, nevertheless, was considerably beneath goal. 

EU international locations spent a complete of 18% of their total defence expenditures on joint purchases when the benchmark has been set at 35%.

“We have to deal with the short-term wants by investing and procuring collectively, shopping for extra collectively,” Borrell mentioned. 

“There are very a lot concrete intentions by some member states to take part within the joint procurements. However these intentions must be translated shortly into acquisition orders sooner fairly than later.”

“The European Defence Company stands able to assist this procurement and act as a contracting agent EU Member States requested. We’ve the authorized foundation and we have now expertise to take action let’s go faster to refill our shares,” he mentioned.

Earlier this yr, the European Fee unlocked an extra €1 billion in funding to spice up joint defence analysis and purchases. These got here on high of the almost €8 billion allotted to the European Defence Fund for the 2021-2027 interval.

A number of EU international locations responded to Russia’s conflict on Ukraine, now in its tenth month, by upping their defence spending pledges. Germany, as an example, unveiled a €100 billion bundle to improve its army gear.