Eastern flank criticism mounts over Ireland’s EU defence budget cuts

Dublin suggested cuts to the European Competitiveness Fund (ECF) and Connecting Europe Facility.

Poland’s Defence Minister on Tuesday rejected the Irish proposal to slash the defence line in the EU’s next multiannual budget by 13%, echoing similar criticism from Lithuania.

“They do not see the right place for defence and security in this budget. This is unacceptable for us,” Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said during a press conference after meeting with Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius.

The Irish Presidency on Saturday proposed a €113.7 billion budget for the future European Competitiveness Fund (ECF) for resilience and security, defence industry, and space, down from the €131 billion first pitched by the Commission.

Warsaw has been the target of repeated hybrid incidents, from sabotage to airspace violations. Polish authorities foiled assassination attempts against Kosiniak-Kamysz and Prime Minister Donald Tusk over the weekend.

“They are isolated from the rest of the Old Continent, being an island and they might not fully be aware of those threats to our security,” the minister said, pointing to Europe’s Eastern flank security landscape.

Ireland is also suggesting cutting €2 billion from the €17.6 billion the Commission envisioned for military mobility in the Connecting Europe Facility.

But Kosiniak-Kamysz said the future budget needed to reflect the goal of moving troops fast across the block.

Criticism from countries closer to Moscow is building up, after they called for the Eastern flank to be a priority in the next seven-year budget.

Lithuanian Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Sigitas Mitkus on Tuesday morning said he regretted “considerable cuts” on defence, security and military mobility, pointing to threats Eastern European countries face.

Poland is the main recipient of the €150 billion Security Action for Europe (SAFE) loans to replenish stocks and boost national production and already received a first share of its €43.7 billion envelope.

And it could tap into additional funds, as some €20 billion have not been committed. The Commission is preparing a second round of applications before the end of the year.

“We’re looking into the next stage of the SAFE loan,” Kubilius said, adding the sum would be used to support European countries’ industries and could include Poland.

Kosiniak-Kamysz said Poland will aim to receive more EU funding, without referring to a specific programme to support European defence production.

“I am actually an advocate for the war mode when it comes to the production in defence.”

This story was originally published by Rapporteur, partners of LRT English.