The European Parliament, the Council and the Commission 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.

In accordance with Article 17(4) of the SAFE Regulation, the financial contributions to be provided by third countries for their participation in the SAFE instrument shall be used for programmes supporting the Union defence industry, the Ukrainian defence industry and Ukraine in accordance with the rules of those programmes. The European Parliament, the Council and the Commission agree that such contributions should be used to reinforce EDIP, including USI.