EU weapons production limited due to outsourcing to Non-EU Countries

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News Agencies
8 May 2023 23:39

Much of Europe's military industry is contracted to other countries that are not members of the European Union.

155 mm M795 artillery projectiles are stored during the manufacturing process at the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant in Scranton, Pa., Thursday, April 13, 2023 (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

While the European Union has the capacity to produce more weapons, its production potential is limited by the fact that the EU military industry is outsourced to countries outside the EU, European Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton announced.

"I have already been to 15 places in Europe, in various countries to understand … exactly what they need to be able … to speed up their production [of ammunition] … We have a production capacity in Europe, no doubt that is the fruit of our history of course, but we have also seen that the member states have worked towards having production autonomy … much of our industry is contracted to other countries that are not members of the European Union," Breton said during a session at the European Parliament.

Late last year, Josep Borrell, the EU's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, stated earlier, "The military stocks of most [European NATO] member states have been, I wouldn’t say exhausted, but depleted in a high proportion because we have been providing a lot of capacity to the Ukrainians," which was acknowledged by Chief of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, that stated during the recent UNGA that alliance members must increase investment in their arms industry.

Stoltenberg, who held an exceptional meeting with the arms directors of the alliance to discuss means of restocking weapons of members, said in a statement to the New York Times that NATO members are now "working with industry to increase production of weapons and ammunition," calling for countries of the alliance to increase weapons orders in order to encourage manufacturers to boost capacity in the long term.