Portugal is responsible for 170 million euros of a total of 12 billion euros that the European Union (EU) can make available to Ukraine until 2027, for its defense, the government announced on Monday.
“Portugal accounts for 1.5% of the total. The increase of 3.5 billion […] means for Portugal about 170 million euros in 2027, if the whole is spent”declared Foreign Minister João Gomes Cravinho in Luxembourg.
Speaking to the Portuguese press at the end of a meeting of the heads of EU diplomacy, on the day the 27 decided to increase the resources of the European Peace Support Mechanism (MEAP), which now number about 12, by 3.5 billion euros billion euros assured João Gomes Cravinho that this amount refers to Portugal “it’s what’s on the table, it’s an opportunity, depending on the need to spend that money”.
“There is not a single finance minister out of 27 who is happy that we have to invest so much money in the MEAP, but I believe that all finance ministers and all prime ministers and presidents within the EU understand the need to make this effort , given the exceptional circumstances we are experiencing”said the ruler.
Just after the developments of the past weekend, given the movements of the uprising in Russia against the military command, João Gomes Cravinho also defended the “the need to stay focused on support for Ukraine, military support and this includes an increase of 3.5 billion euros for the MEAP and also political support, which went through the 11th sanctions package, which was approved” to counter circumvention of restrictive measures.
The 27 EU member states decided on Monday to increase the financial ceiling of the MEAP by €3.5 billion, to ensure the sustainability of this instrument and to improve the response to conflicts, which has been used to supply ammunition to the Ukrainian armed forces. guarantees.
“This decision is intended to ensure the financial sustainability of the European Peace Facility [MEAP] maintain, in the longer term, its global geographic reach and the EU’s ability to prevent and respond quickly to crises and conflicts”the Council of the EU stated in the note.
MEAP was established in 2021 to support the EU’s military and defense partners, with the main objective of preventing conflicts, preserving peace and strengthening international security and stability.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022 plunged Europe into what is considered the most serious security crisis since World War II (1939-1945).
Source: DN
