The European Commission will present the first strategic European defense projects next week.
The EU executive is expected to present about five joint European projects, one representative of the European Commission and two diplomats told Contexte.
Two of these projects will focus on drones and air defense; another will focus on strengthening the eastern regions of the bloc, which have recently experienced a number of drone incidents.
This initiative is part of the Commission's drive for member States to develop, manufacture, and purchase critical defense equipment on a large scale through so-called projects of common interest as the bloc seeks to rearm
France, Italy, and Greece had previously opposed using EU funds to create a common project to help eastern countries combat drones due to concerns about technical feasibility and frustration that it was unfair to other regions.
The European Defense Industry Program has allocated 325 million euros from EU funds for such projects, in which Ukrainian and Norwegian companies can also participate.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also announced on June 25 that Ukraine would receive 6 billion euros in the coming days for the purchase of drones as part of an EU loan of 90 billion euros.
Contexte.com