The EU on Friday announced hundreds of millions of euros to boost the production of explosives as it pushes to be able to churn out two million artillery shells a year by late 2025.
The 27-nation bloc is scrambling to bolster Europe's defense industry as it looks to support Ukraine and build up its stocks in the face of Russia's invasion of its neighbor.
But there are fears the European Union is lagging behind two years into the conflict as Moscow has ramped up its own output of weaponry by putting its economy on a war footing.
As part of the efforts to get Europe to produce more, Brussels pushed through a 500-million-euro program earlier this year aimed at ramping up its capacity to make ammunition.
The EU's executive arm released the list of firms the money would go to on Friday, with an official saying three-quarters of the funds were for projects making gunpowder and other explosives.
“The program will support projects increasing the annual production capacity by more than 10,000 tons of powder, and by more than 4,300 tons of explosives,” Brussels said.
“Europe is expected to reach an annual ammunition shell production capacity of two million by the end of 2025.”
Officials have pointed to a shortage of explosives as one of the key factors hampering artillery shell production in Europe.
The latest funds are part of a raft of initiatives aimed at increasing Europe's defense industry and come as EU leaders are set to focus on the issue at a summit next week.
EU Disappoints Ukraine by Failing to Agree Air Defense Deliveries
While the EU insists it is on track to bolster industrial capacity, defense firms have complained that governments are still not placing enough long-term orders.
The EU is set to fall well short of a promise made last year to supply Ukraine with a million shells by this month.
The debate in Europe comes as US support for Ukraine remains blocked and Kyiv's outgunned forces are being pushed back by Russia.
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Comments (2)
Gog and Magog maps and images and Luke 21 the armies are close to surrounding Israel for the armageddon and the blood up to the horses bridal. All of Israel saved Romans 11:26 amen. The red heifer from Texas is in Israel. The prophecy is being fulfilled amen. 3 Rd. Temple news pages. Israel and the temple is god's time peace. Knowing Jesus light for the day odb.org .
I actually have no clue what you just said, or its relevance here? It's too incoherent to have been drafted by even a 10 year old beta versions of AI, so I take it, its' just how you think.
I'm afraid if it was supposed to mean something to most of us monitoring these forums the message was lost.
Perhaps its' code for some Patriarch Kirill enigma device to latter parse / translate?
If not feel free to translate it into a regular human language for the rest of us
Mr. Scholz looks like a lost puppy following his master. Sure hope she told him to sit.
@ Hi troll "jack" trying to be John
Did you get bored with your MRGA assigned name and decide to steal someone else's today hoping no one would notice?
The give-away for all your post under false names though, is that you only say insulting things to allies or other posters.