To exceed this threshold, a formal security and defense agreement with the EU is required.
Turkey can now be actively involved in the defense planning of the European Union, with the ability to provide up to 35% of a defense product. To surpass this threshold, an official security and defense agreement with the EU is required. This new framework was presented today by the heads of European institutions at a teleconference with third -country leaders, including Turkish President Erdogan.
The meeting and briefing with the “homosexual” countries, as the EU characterizes, took place a few hours after the Brussels summit and the rigorous message to Turkey, on the occasion of Imamoglou’s arrest, where the EU warned that “respect for its rights”.
Although apparent from the White Bible articles, as presented days ago, the leaders of the Union made it clear today.
Specifically, European Council President Antonio Costa, President of the Commission Ursula von der Layen and High Representative Kaya Callas had a new teleconference today with third -country leaders to inform them of the “27” discussions about the European Council’s conclusions.
The meeting was attended by leaders from the United Kingdom, Turkey, Norway and Iceland, while leaders of New Zealand, Japan, Canada and Australia did not participate.
Union representatives presented the proposed funding mechanisms for the required investment in the defense and opportunities for the countries of partners.
As the first – national escape clause explained – it will release a fiscal space of up to € 650 billion in the national budgets of the Member States. It will not be accompanied by terms with regard to the origin of the defense equipment. Therefore, military equipment from the countries of partners can benefit directly from it.
The second – “Safe” with loans of up to 150 billion euros. Norway and Iceland can already participate immediately, as they are members of the EU single market.
Other countries, such as the United Kingdom, Canada or Turkey, can immediately provide 35% of a defense product. In order to increase industrial participation beyond 35%, a corporate security and defense relationship and a subsequent connection agreement is necessary.
Participants agreed to continue to coordinate efforts to strengthen Ukraine and increase Europe’s security. The governments of Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Japan will then be informed of the results of the European Council.
In addition to the European Council, EU leaders welcomed the fact that Ukraine is ready for a complete ceasefire and emphasized that peace should not reward the attacker and that pressure on Russia should be enhanced.
Indeed, EU leaders have tried the France and the United Kingdom’s initiative to form a coalition of the willing to determine the support for the Ukrainian army and the security guarantees that European countries can provide. In this area, Turkey may be particularly useful for many reasons, for example, it can send an army without social reactions within the country, and is welcomed by Ukraine and possibly Russia.
“At this critical period for international security, working with world partners is vital …. We will continue to work closely in the coming weeks and months,” the Council president said in a post on X after his meeting ..
HuffPost had clarified, on the occasion of the presentation of the White Bible, that although the € 150 billion funding tool would be exclusively for Member States, all EU countries will also be able to participate in joint supplies of weapons systems.
Indeed, a source from HuffPost in Brussels commented that Turkey’s benefit of these funding could not be excluded, as supplies could be involved, following negotiations, defense industries from candidate countries, potential candidates and countries. After all, the document reminds, in a special paragraph for Turkey, that it is also a candidate in a special relationship with the EU.
However, the European Commission, through the SAFE Plan, sets strict conditions for funding defense supplies, demanding at least 65% European content in military consumables and complex defense systems. In addition, for the most advanced weapons systems, Member States must ensure that European contractors maintain complete design control in order to avoid new addictions by third countries. This means that systems will be excluded where a third country has “planning power” or restrictions on their use, which directly affects US weapons systems.
Also, companies from third countries are not automatically excluded from supplies, as long as they maintain seat and production in the EU and comply with European regulations. However, in these cases, 65% of the components should come from the EU, the EEA (European Economic Area) and EKAs (European Free Trade Zone) or Ukraine.
Yesterday after the Summit, the Commission President explained that companies in Europe do not have to be European, it may also be a subsidiary from a different company, based in the EU. “We will spend billions of euros and we want a refund. And where this money is spent they will create good jobs, bring innovation, research and growth and this must be done within the EU, “said von der Layen.
Source: Huffingtonpost.gr