The Renew Europe Group in the European Parliament has called on the European Council to fully back the swift agreement reached by EU defence ministers on facilitating the immediate transfer of weapons and ammunition to Ukraine, including through joint procurement by Member States. 

To this end, Renew Europe initiated a debate in last week’s European Parliament plenary on how to strengthen EU defence in the context of the war in Ukraine, through speeding up production and deliveries of military supplies to Ukraine. 

This has been requested as a matter of urgency by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and Renew Europe believes that delivering additional military support to Kyiv is vital for the security of our continent. The EU must act without delay. 

Speaking during the debate, Nathalie Loiseau MEP (L’Europe Ensemble, FR), Chair of the European Parliament Subcommittee on Security and Defence, said: 

“There is fire on our doorstep and we cannot ignore it. Ukraine is under attack and Europe is threatened. In this context, we need to look into all possibilities at our disposal at the same time: to provide Kyiv with ammunition as a matter of urgency, wherever it comes from, by relying on the European Peace Facility. We must be able to hold out for the long term by increasing our own production, while continuing to help Ukraine, because the war will be long, and by ensuring that we have the equipment we need for ourselves.”  

“Peace and freedom have no price, but they do have a cost. Our duty is to bear it.” 

Hilde Vautmans MEP (Open VLD, BE), Renew Europe Group Coordinator in the European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee, added: 

"Ukraine needs weapons and ammunitions and it needs them fast, as Ukraine's victory and hence its future depends on it. This is Europe's ‘whatever it takes’ moment for Ukraine and its own security. Just as we managed to find rapid solutions through joint purchases and ramping up of production for vaccines during the pandemic, we must now show we can help Ukraine by providing the weapons it needs. With war returning on the continent, Europe must invest in its security and defence, in a European army. If not now, then when?" 

We need to provide Ukraine with the weapons and ammunitions that it urgently needs. Ukraine's victory and its future depend on it. This is Europe's whatever it takes moment for Ukraine and its own security. https://t.co/ZD94XPw7bu

— Hilde Vautmans (@hildevautmans) March 15, 2023