After some 9 months of intense diplomatic negotiations, the Ukraine Help Fund (UAF) has lastly discovered its place within the EU authorized framework. A political settlement was reached at ambassadorial stage in COREPER on 13 March, and EU Overseas Ministers formally finalised it within the type of a Council Determination on the Overseas Affairs Council on 18 March 2024 (right here). This publish goals to know the authorized options of the brand new fund within the context of EU help to Ukraine, to be able to make clear its goal contribution to the EU’s response to Russia’s unlawful invasion of Ukraine and the development of a extra supranational Frequent Overseas and Safety Coverage (CFSP).
The Ukraine Help Fund is a particularly developed envelope price 5 billion inside the current European Peace Facility (EPF) to step up the EU’s army assist to Ukraine to a brand new, subsequent part. Because the Excessive Consultant identified, the consensus on this new monetary part confirms the EU’s unwavering assist for Ukraine for so long as it takes: ‘The message is evident: we are going to assist Ukraine with no matter it takes to prevail’ (right here). Technically, the UAF shouldn’t be due to this fact a brand new EU instrument to be added to the CFSP toolbox. Relatively, it’s designed as a ‘devoted quantity’ to assist the Ukrainian Armed Forces in defending its residents and regaining territorial sovereignty in opposition to Russia’s unlawful invasion of Ukraine, which not too long ago celebrated its second anniversary.
