Check against delivery!   

Thank you very much Mr President, Honourable Members of the European Parliament,  

The European Council decision to grant EU candidate status to Ukraine created a powerful reform dynamic, despite the ongoing devastating war, with a strong support from the people of Ukraine. The Ukrainian government and Parliament demonstrated impressive resolve and resilience over the last year.  In a short period of time, the country has confirmed its capacity to make progress in reforms aligning with the EU acquis, even during the wartime. In addition, the decision in December by the European Council to open negotiations provided the Ukrainian people with a morale boost, and the hope for a brighter, European, future. 

In turn, it is our role and duty to – not only continue but – increase our support to Ukraine, on all fronts but especially on military assistance as we witness the relentless attacks Ukraine faces by the Russian aggressor. The work the European Union and its Member States are currently undertaking on Europe’s defence competitiveness and capacity will eventually provide Ukraine with the necessary support, along other security commitments.  

In March 2023, EU Member States agreed on a three-track approach to deliver ammunition to Ukraine. Since then, the European Union has progressed on this strategy to deliver 1 million rounds to Ukraine. The [European] Commission has been contributing to this effort, focusing in particular on the ramping up of the industrial production capacity. Soon, the European industry will have the capacity to produce 1 million artillery shells a year. And for other types of ground-to-ground ammunition, such as mortar shells, it has already production capacities well in excess of 1 million. 

In support of ramping up ammunition and missile production, EU Member States agreed on a Work Programme to implement the Regulation on supporting ammunition production – which we know under the abbreviation ‘ASAP’ - which will allocate €500 million to the support of investment projects worth up to €1.4 billion, thereby incentivising the ramp-up of ammunition and missiles production in the European Union. It will also help address bottlenecks throughout the supply chains of ammunition and missiles in the European Union and Norway, by supporting industry to rapidly adjust to new market trends and reduce dependencies.  

In addition, the European Union is also intensifying its efforts to incentivise Member States to commonly procure the most critical and urgent defence products from the European defence industry. The instrument for the reinforcement of the European defence industry through common procurement (EDIRPA) which was adopted last October will play an important role in this context.  

Ukraine needs us now more than ever. Ukraine is our top priority, and it will remain so as long as it takes. 

Thank you very much, Mr President. 

Link to the video (starting as of 6:20): https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-251499

Closing remarks  

Thank you very much Mr President, Madam Minister [for Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Foreign Trade of Belgium, Hadja Lahbib], Honourable Members, 

Our discussion today only proves the importance of our commitment to Ukraine. While Ukraine endures the hard consequences of Russia’s illegal war of aggression, know that the European Union can and will provide Ukraine with long-term commitments and clear sustained support.  

Ukraine needs us now and we are answering with our military support, through our security commitments, our sanctions regime, our humanitarian and reconstruction efforts, just as much as the opening of the accession negotiations.  

I am grateful to the honourable members for your unwavering support to Ukraine. Ukraine is part of Europe, and we will stand by our fellow Ukrainians now, while the war is raging, and once the peace has been achieved. This is our goal, and we will do it as long as it takes. 

Thank you very much. 

Link to the video (starting as of 3:49):  https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-251501