The countries bordering Ukraine must be given priority in the funding of defense programs through the SAFE instrument. This is the request made in the letter that MEP Victor Negrescu addressed to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
This is just one of the allocation criteria for funding through the SAFE instrument dedicated to the defense sector, which the Vice-President of the European Parliament included in the document addressed to the President of the European Commission.
”EU frontline countries have shown great solidarity with Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, providing support, humanitarian and military assistance in a large and comprehensive way. It is a proof that we can do so much together if we stay united and understand that we need to help each other in difficult times. Moreover, the strategic importance of frontline countries in Eastern Europe has grown tremendously since the beginning of the war in Ukraine”, Underlined Victor Negrescu in a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Among the criteria put forward by the MEP are:
The proximity of war. The Vice-President of the European Parliament highlighted the efforts of countries on the EU’s eastern border to protect the “European way of life” and to support Ukraine and Moldova.
Direct and indirect efforts already undertaken by member countries.
Eastern European countries reacted swiftly to the crisis in Ukraine, taking on an additional burden compared to other states. This context has put pressure on national budgets and increased the need for fair European support.
”Many of the frontline countries have allocated significant resources and have spent important amounts from their own budgets in providing the logistic, humanitarian and military aid that Ukraine needs. This has generated additional unforeseen costs and expenses and has put a great burden on their national budgets. Sometimes, these financial indispensable costs have been done at the expense of other crucial policies affecting directly the democratic and social resilience of those countries”, emphasized Victor Negrescu.
The pressure through foreign interference and hybrid threats. The Vice-President of the European Parliament underlined the significant threat posed by Russia’s hybrid war on the democratic process in Europe.
”Given EU’s support to combat foreign interference and hybrid threats, it is of crucial importance that SAFE takes into consideration these criteria and balances the support accordingly”, highlighted the MEP.
For context, the European Commission recently proposed a new instrument called SAFE – Security Actions for Europe, which will mobilize up to €150 billion from financial markets. The funds will be available in the form of long-term loans, which member states can access based on a national defence investment plan.
