President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the importance of supporting Ukraine’s defense industry by EU countries through joint procurement of weapons during her speech in the European Parliament.
This is reported by Business • Media
“The speed, economic efficiency, and ingenuity of Ukraine’s defense production are impressive, but the Ukrainian defense industry is operating at only 60% of its capacity. EU states can take loans under the SAFE (Security Action for Europe) program and purchase weapons from Ukraine. For EU states, this means the highest quality, speed, and low cost. For Ukraine, it means critically important revenue and the opportunity to strengthen its defense industry.”
EU Rearmament and the SAFE Program
Ursula von der Leyen highlighted that there is an urgent need for rearmament in the European Union due to the ongoing threat from Russia. She reported that under the SAFE program, which has a budget of €150 billion, ten EU states have already expressed their intention to take loans for joint procurement of weapons. This approach will not only effectively rearm European armies but also support the Ukrainian defense industry.
New Opportunities for Cooperation: Launch of the ASD Connect Platform
An online platform called ASD Connect is planned to be launched in Ukraine by September, which aims to become an effective tool for direct interaction between Ukrainian arms manufacturers and companies from the European Union. Through this platform, users will be able to send supply requests, find partners for collaboration, participate in joint projects, and attract funding. This year, ASD Connect aims to involve over 1,000 companies from the EU and at least 150 from Ukraine, which will contribute to strengthening international cooperation in the defense industry.