Brussels ( Brussels Morning) – European Council adopts €41 million aid for Moldova and €25 million for Ghana to bolster their armed forces, enhancing national security and defence capabilities.
The European Council has adopted two assistance steps under the European Peace Facility (EPF) in backing the Armed Forces of the Republic of Moldova and the Ghana Armed Forces, with the purpose of improving national security, stability and strength in the security sector.
The European Peace Facility was launched in March 2021 to fund all Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) activities in the areas of military and defence, with the purpose of preventing conflict, preserving peace and maintaining international security and stability. In particular, the European Peace Facility permits the EU to finance actions developed to strengthen the capabilities of non-EU countries and regional and global organisations relating to military and defence matters. Other inheritors have been among others Ukraine, Georgia, the African Union, Niger, Mozambique, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Mali.
In an era of complicated security threats, the European Peace Facility extends the EU’s ability to provide security for its citizens and its allies. It maximises the effect, effectiveness and sustainability of prevailing EU external action in peace and security.
According to the Council, concerning Moldova, the assumed measure is worth €41 million over a term of 40 months. It will fund the provision of non-lethal tools in the following areas: mobility, air surveillance, electronic warfare, and logistics equipment. Building on earlier EPF support, the offering measure aims to permit the Armed Forces of the Republic of Moldova to improve operational effectiveness, accelerate adherence with EU standards and interoperability, and thereby better defend civilians in crises and emergencies. It also strives to strengthen the Republic of Moldova’s capacities with respect to its undertakings in EU military Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) tasks and operations.
The Republic of Moldova asked for the measure on 5 February 2023 and will complete other assistance measures assumed in May 2023, June 2022 and December 2021.
The EU is dedicated to providing all relevant support to Moldova in managing the challenges it faces as a result of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, and to strengthening the country’s resilience, safety and stability in the face of destabilising actions by Russia.
In the case of Ghana, the measure embraced by the Council today is worth €25 million over a duration of 36 months. It will improve the capabilities of the Ghana Armed Forces to defend the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the nation and its civilian population.
The EU will deliver key non-lethal equipment in the following domains: medical, military engineering, defence intelligence, electronic warfare systems, explosive ordnance disposal, as well as targeted education movements in the field of military logistics knowledge.
This step was requested by Ghana on 12 December 2023 and will complement two other offering measures adopted in July 2023 and November 2023, currently under implementation.
The delivery of military equipment to Ghana is an element of the EU’s integrated approach to reacting to the deteriorating security situations in the northern regions of the coastal lands of the Gulf of Guinea, which incorporates various tools, including development contribution and support to governance, desired at preventing and fighting violent extremism. It also complements the recently launched CSDP initiative (EU Security and Defence Initiative for the Gulf of Guinea), donating to peace and stability within the region.
