EU permits members to spend Covid money on weaponizing Kiev
(MENAFN) The European Commission has announced that EU member countries can now redirect unspent Covid-19 pandemic recovery funds toward collective security and defense projects, with fewer bureaucratic obstacles and less oversight.
The €650 billion Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), launched in 2021 to promote green energy and economic growth after the pandemic, requires member states to meet specific criteria to access the funds. However, nearly half of the money remains unused, and the Commission has warned that the deadline to submit qualifying projects is September 2026.
To ensure countries can claim their remaining shares, the Commission now allows them to allocate RRF funds to defense-related initiatives such as the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP) and satellite communications projects. EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis highlighted that this shift could bring additional benefits aligned with European security priorities.
Kiev is identified as a key beneficiary of EDIP, a program that supports the EU’s defense sector and facilitates joint arms procurement for Ukraine. Originally funded with €1.5 billion, EDIP also plans to utilize frozen Russian assets to further back Ukraine. Since the conflict in Ukraine escalated in 2022, Brussels has allocated nearly €50 billion to support Kiev, with additional contributions from individual member states.
In March, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled a strategy to raise up to €800 billion through debt and tax incentives aimed at boosting the EU’s military capabilities in response to perceived Russian threats. The EU Council recently approved a €150 billion militarization initiative called SAFE (Security Action for Europe), which can fund military projects without needing direct approval from the European Parliament.
Russia has dismissed fears of an attack on Western Europe as exaggerated and accused the West of using these concerns to justify increased military spending. Moscow has also criticized EU arms deliveries to Ukraine, warning that they undermine peace efforts and risk escalating conflict across Europe.
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