The EU Commission wants to create additional incentives for joint armaments investments and is proposing a "solidarity mechanism" for this purpose.

States that help Ukraine “most in containing Russian aggression” should be able to “replenish their own supplies”.

"This could take the form of a one-off solidarity reimbursement, provided a minimum number of Member States cooperate in procurement" and invest in European goods.

Thomas Gutschker

Political correspondent for the European Union, NATO and the Benelux countries based in Brussels.

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This is what it says in an analysis of gaps in defense investments that the European Council ordered from the Commission in March.

The paper, which is available to the FAZ, should be decided this Wednesday and then serve as the basis for deliberations by the heads of government at the end of the month.

The Commission does not specify how the "solidarity mechanism" will be financed.

In principle, the member states already have 1.5 billion euros from the so-called peace facility at their disposal to refinance arms deliveries to Ukraine.

This money has been budgeted internally but has not yet been reimbursed.

The sum is to be increased by a further 500 million euros in the near future.

A total of up to five billion euros from the special fund could be used for such purposes.

It is a pot beyond the regular budget, because armaments cannot be procured from the regular budget.

"Spend more and better together"

The EU defense fund, endowed with eight billion euros, may only co-finance research and development of armaments projects.

The Commission is therefore proposing two further measures to strengthen armaments cooperation, in addition to the "solidarity mechanism".

On the one hand, the fund could be increased by a supplementary budget in order to create additional incentives for European developments.

This would have to be decided within the framework of a “broader discussion about the consequences of the Russian attack on Ukraine”.

On the other hand, it is proposed to set up a "vehicle" outside the regular budget for more extensive costs, such as for testing prototypes.

Member States could either fill it in according to a fixed key or depending on the project.

The Commission's proposals are made against the background of increasing defense spending by states on the one hand, and declining cooperation in the armaments sector on the other.

"We have to spend more and better money together," says the analysis.

It identifies serious defense capability gaps.

There is a lack of defense systems, combat and reconnaissance drones, modern tanks and armored personnel carriers, frigates, submarines and unmanned naval systems.

In addition, states urgently need to replenish their ammunition stocks, improve their cyber defenses and set up satellite-based communications.

These gaps exist regardless of arms now being shipped to Ukraine.

The Commission fears that the high pressure to replace such systems will lead to