“The EU will probably be ready to disburse the first billion (euro) of the profits of frozen Russian assets in early July,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.
The European Council decided to move towards the use of windfall revenues from Russia’s immobilized assets for the benefit of Ukraine, including the possibility of financing European military support for Kiev.
This is highlighted in the conclusions of the European Council on Ukraine.
During a press conference shortly after the end of the first day of the summit, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU would likely be ready to disburse the first billion (euro) of profits from frozen Russian assets. data to support Ukraine already at the beginning of July.
“There is indeed strong support for the use of surplus profits from frozen Russian assets for military purposes from Ukraine,” said Ursula von der Leyen. “I told the leaders that if we move quickly now to complete the proposal, we could disburse the first billion as early as July 1. So it depends on us”, on “if we move quickly”, insisted the president of the Commission.
“I am confident that we can act very quickly and put this mechanism in place,” said the president of the European Council, Charles Michel. The European Council supported the proposal presented by the Commission and the Belgian presidency assured that the intention is to work very quickly in this direction, said S. Michel and added that it is important to be able to use this money to buy defense equipment for Ukraine.
Regarding the need to shield the European defense, the President of the Commission stated that the defense industry, as an industry of the single market, can be supported by the European Commission to strengthen the various sectors. Referring to the defense industrial strategy recently presented by the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen highlighted the possibility that member states have to move towards joint procurement and better procurement. He also emphasized that the strengthening of the industrial base will give impetus to research and development in new technologies. “Right now that’s what we’re trying to do, to have a mechanism where we’re not only going to get better supplies quickly,” he added.
Ursula von der Leyen said, finally, that the issue of European defense needs “undivided full-time attention”. He therefore proposed that the next Commission should have a Commissioner for Defense to deal precisely with this very important part of our common market.
Source :Skai
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