Prague summit: the Twenty-Seven create a "special fund" to help Ukraine
President Emmanuel Macron, at the end of the European Union summit at Prague Castle, October 7, 2022. AP - Darko Bandic
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
Gathered in Prague at an informal summit on Friday 7 October, the Twenty-Seven agreed to organize the continuation of aid to Ukraine, by creating a "
special fund
" endowed with 100 million euros.
They also tried to harmonize their positions on the issue of energy, referring in particular to a mechanism of “
European financial solidarity
”.
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With our special correspondent in Prague,
Anastasia Becchio
For the second time in two days, Volodymyr Zelensky spoke by videoconference to
European leaders gathered at Prague Castle on
Friday October 7, calling on them to make an extra effort.
“
Increase the supply of arms and ammunition to defend ourselves against Russian pressure.
Increase the manufacture of arms and ammunition in Europe to be always ready to defend our common space
”, he asked.
At the end of the informal European Council, Emmanuel Macron announced the creation of a "
special fund
" to enable Ukraine to buy directly from manufacturers the equipment it needs most.
"
This dedicated special fund will initially be endowed with 100 million euros to be able to acquire equipment that corresponds to what we have already been able to deliver
," said the French president.
So we continue in the same category of weapons, that is, defensive.
And we have discussions with our Danish partners to deliver these weapons.
It is a discussion that has certain technical aspects that is being finalized.
»
France, concluded the French Head of State, is
"ready to co-finance"
to
"deliver several units of this Caesar artillery system which has shown its effectiveness
".
Six Caesar guns in total which, if the discussions are successful, will be added to the 18 already transmitted to the Ukrainian army.
On the more delicate subject of energy, the Twenty-Seven have tried to adopt a common position to deal with the crisis, but the exercise is not the easiest.
Discussions will continue.
Emmanuel Macron announced that
the EU
had decided to put in place "
mechanisms
" of "
European financial solidarity
" to deal together with soaring energy prices, but nothing concrete for the moment.
The Commission must work on this between now and the next European summit on 20 and 21 October.
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European Union
Ukraine
Emmanuel Macron
Energies
Volodymyr Zelensky