Documentaaa to replicate the method used with covid-19 vaccines, which were purchased collectively on behalf of Member States, to reduce prices and ensure supply in the global competition
The European Commission wants to buy armament collectively on behalf of the Member States, according to the outline of a document to which Reuters and Financial Times had access on Thursday. To confirm, this is a major change in decision-making power and a clear response to the United States, which have already made it clear that Europe is on its own.
“At the request of the Member States, the commission could … act as a central purchasing organism [de armas] In your name, ”can read.
The idea is to replicate the method used with Covid-19 vaccines, which were collectively purchased on behalf of Member States, to reduce prices and ensure supply in the global competition. “The aggregation of demand through joint acquisitions is the most economical route to rebuild European defense,” the European Commission believes.
“The joint acquisition of defense products has significant benefits for both Member States and the Defense Industry,” the commission adds.
The document may still be changed before it is officially published in the European summit of 20 March, where the “rearmar to Europe” plan will be presented, which provides for an investment of 800 billion euros, including 150 billion euros in new loans and relaxation of the member state’s deficit rules. The document does not contain any subparagraph regarding an increase in the collective debt of the Member States for defense, an idea defended by several capitals, but rejected by Germany and the Netherlands.
In the document it can be read that the European Union faces an “threat of unprecedented security since conventional war returned to Europe in February 2022” with the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
