The European Parliament and the Council acknowledge the imperative need to support the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base and the Ukrainian Defence Technological and Industrial Base to increase their competitiveness by accelerating the adjustment of industry to structural changes, including through the ramp up of production capacities and the increase of cooperation in the procurement of defence products, in particular in light of the challenges created by Russia’s illegal, unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine.

Without prejudice to the prerogatives of the budgetary authority in the framework of future annual budgetary procedures, the European Parliament and the Council invite the Commission to explore as a matter of priority, while taking into account prior political commitments of the budgetary authority, including to cover the EURI interest cost, options to reinforce the budget for the European Defence Industry Programme and the Ukraine Support Instrument in line with point 18 of the IIA on budgetary discipline without reducing similar EU programmes and funds.