In addition, several EU officials told EURACTIV that the program, which was originally proposed to meet Ukraine's urgent defense needs, would not be able to achieve its main goal, in this case urgent replenishment.

 Also, as Kyiv's needs remain acute but now largely focus on munitions, EU countries agreed last month to send and jointly purchase 4 billion euros worth of munitions - even though the plan does not comply with legal rulings - to meet immediate needs , which would receive EDIRPA, writes the publication.

 Delays in negotiations have also kept member states from preparing joint procurement projects, defense industry representatives told EURACTIV.

 Earlier this year, the European Commission and the EU's diplomatic service (EEAS) reportedly called on the bloc to invest in an urgent expansion of ammunition production capacity for the medium- and short-term sustainability of the European defense industry.

 EU Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton, who is also in charge of defense and space, has been visiting member states in recent weeks to identify production capacities and is expected to send his plan to the 27 EU countries soon.

 The EU also intends to propose a European Defense Investment Program (EDIP) aimed at increasing production in the long term, not just of ammunition. The plan was due to be unveiled in June but is likely to be delayed until the final quarter of the year, two people with knowledge of the matter said.

 At the same time, the released 250 million euros from EDIRPA may be redirected to EDIP, several EU sources said. Another option would be to use the funds to finance the industrial stimulation of ammunition production, they added.

 "All options for the potential use of the EU budget are currently being considered, including the option of mobilizing EDIRPA, which was designed as a short-term EU tool to stimulate joint procurement to increase market predictability for the industry," a European Commission official told EURACTIV.

 The EU Commission "is studying the entire range of possible measures to support such an increase, both from the point of view of instruments and from the point of view of the main measures," the official added.

 The Council of the EU approved the allocation of 1 billion euros for the provision of ammunition to Ukraine.