The European Commission will propose to make Ukraine a full member of the EU's defense industry support scheme, which will help to use Kyiv's experience and bring it closer to EU membership. This is stated in the draft proposals of the European Commission, which was reviewed by Euractiv.
According to the European Commission's draft proposals, the first step in this direction is to grant Ukraine a special status that will allow it to become a member of any consortium for joint procurement of military equipment, access to EU funds, and VAT exemption.
Previous EU defense and industrial programs did not provide such a status for any third country, except Norway.
Ukraine's participation in this program would pave the way for further integration with the EU and strengthen the EU's military-industrial complex, as well as allow Ukraine to benefit from its experience in the use of modern weapons.
The draft regulation to be submitted by the European Commission provides for a separate budget for the Ukrainian defense-industrial complex and notes that Ukraine must adhere to democratic principles and the rule of law to ensure common stability, security and peace.
