Strengthening the European Peace Facility

Brigadier General Stefan Lampl, Logistic Director of the EU Military Staff, opened the second edition of the European Peace Facility / Clearing House Cell deep dive session, building on the success of last year’s event. 

This two-day event was organized by the Clearing House Cell Ukraine in close  cooperation with the Commission service for Foreign Policy Instruments, the European External Action Service, Directorate for Partnerships and Crisis Management dealing with the European Peace Facility and took place on the premises of the Belgium Royal Military Academy in Brussels.

The conference gathered delegates from 23 EU Member States, representatives from the European Council, Commission, European Defence Agency and EU auditors. The forum not only allowed to inform, educate and to reinforce the common understanding, but it also offered a unique opportunity to share experiences. In addition, informative discussions about the support to Ukraine provided under the Assistance Measures pillar of the European Peace Facility were complemented by tailored advice. 

Needless to stress the European Union’s invaluable and substantial support to Ukraine’s fight against the Russian aggression since more than four years. The conference not only focused on the European Peace Facility processes for Ukraine, but also touched upon  reimbursement schemes, Windfall Profits procedures, and Voluntary Financial Contributions, with the aim to elaborate on procedures, templates and conditions for reimbursement when support is being provided under multinational initiatives.

Since its first gathering last year, many things have evolved and significant progress has been made, although the challenges remain. This transparent event between the EU institutions and the Member States on this complex and unique ecosystem of the reimbursement process under this instrument clearly contributes to the optimisation of its complex database management and administrative processes. In the same vein, it ensures continuity of corporate knowledge as staff changes occur. The scale of the task remains unprecedented, with a marked increase in the overall volume of reimbursement requests over the past year.

The General Lampl made a call to all stakeholders to actively engage and emphasized that only through collective resolve and sustained collaboration we will turn insights into action.

The European Union Military Staff Clearing House Cell Ukraine (CHC) 

the CHC was established on 26 February 2022, only two days after the full scale Russian aggression on Ukraine, as a non-permanent structure manned with about 10 officers of the EUMS. CHC with its military expertise supports the applicability of the European Peace Facility Assistance Measures established in Support to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The CHC assesses the military support provided by EU Member States - against needs and priorities communicated by the Mission of Ukraine to the European Union and provides proposals for further EPF funding consideration in the EPF Committee. The CHC acts as an information-sharing platform between EU Member States, Partner Countries and NATO, facilitating collaboration on military support to Ukraine. The CHC provides recurrent Situation Reports (CHC SITREP) and conducts regular coordination meetings in order to render the best possible military assistance, improve coordination between contributors and efficiency in the deliveries.