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Service for Foreign Policy Instruments

European Peace Facility

The European Peace Facility is an off-budget instrument that enhances the EU’s ability to act as a global security provider.  It was established in March 2021 to preserve peace, prevent conflicts and strengthen international security.

Stylised image of plane on tarmac with cargo
European Peace Facility

Key facts:

  • The European Peace Facility (EPF) is an off-budget funding mechanism for EU actions with military and defence implications under the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). It has a total budget of more than EUR 17 billion for the period 2021-2027.
  • The EPF consists of two pillars – one for military operations and one for assistance measures.
  • The support under the EPF is provided by an administrator for operations and by an administrator for assistance measures. The Head of Service, the FPI Director is the administrator for assistance measures, while the administrator for operations is within the Council General Secretariat.
  • The administrators are responsible for the financial implementation of Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) military operations and of assistance measures. They do this under the EPF by providing financial, technical or material support with military or defence implications to third countries, regional or international organisations.
  • The strategic orientation and political steer for operations and assistance measures to be funded under the EPF is provided by the Political and Security Committee (PSC) on the basis of the strategic priorities set by the European Council and the Council.
  • The EPF is managed under the authority and direction of a Facility Committee responsible for adopting the EPF annual and amending budgets. The EPF Committee is composed of a representative of each EU Member State. It operates within the structures of the Council and is chaired by a representative of the rotating presidency of the Council.
  • A College of Auditors is in charge of the external audit of revenue and expenditure as well as of the annual accounts of operations and assistance measures. The Auditors are appointed by the EPF Committee based on candidates proposed by the EU Member States.

The European Peace Facility (EPF) was established by Council Decision (CFSP) 2021/509 of 22 March 2021 on the basis of Articles 30(1) and 41(2) of the Treaty on European Union (TEU).

The EPF finances CFSP actions with military and defence implications that will enhance the Union's ability to prevent conflicts, build peace, and strengthen international security. It covers an increased range of EU military missions and operations and it allows the EU to support partners on a global level, either bilaterally or through international or regional organisations. The Facility replaces the Athena mechanismand the African Peace Facility, which have ceased to exist, and has a global geographical reach.

The EPF has a total financial ceiling of more than EUR 17 billion for the period 2021-2027. As the EPF is an off-budget instrument, EU Member States pay their contributions directly every year, based on the estimated annual budget for the EPF.

Through the EPF, the EU has the possibility to provide military equipment to increase its partners’ security and defence capacity. In addition to training provided to partners, the EPF also allows the EU to provide equipment, subject to strict safeguards and control mechanisms. Respect of human rights and compliance with international humanitarian law are crucial and will be ensured at each step.

The EPF has a two-pillar structure articulated into operations and assistance measures. The operations pillar covers the common costs of military CSDP missions and operations. The assistance measures pillar finances the military aspects of Peace Support Operations (PSOs) and supports capacity building of partner countries and international organisations in military and defence matters.

Upon a proposal by the High Representative or a Member State, the Council of the European Union decides what kind of assistance and equipment can be supplied according to the needs of EU partners. It will assess the level of guarantees and safeguards for adequate use, respect of human rights and international humanitarian law as well as other criteria such as ownership, avoidance of diversion, traceability of equipment, local absorption capacity, and sustainability of the EU investment.

The Integrated Methodological Framework approved by the Council, outlines the safeguards and principles for compliance and control for the provision of military equipment. The EPF Committee, under whose authority and direction the Facility is managed, adopted its Rules of procedure and the Rules for the implementation of revenue and expenditure financed under the EPF.

The European Peace Facility is on the frontline in supporting the capabilities and resilience of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to defend the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country, and protect the civilian population against the ongoing Russian military aggression. A total amount of EUR 6.1 billion has been approved under the EPF to provide military support to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Out of this, EUR 5.77 billion, managed by the Administrator for Assistance Measures, cover the provision of lethal and non-lethal military equipment to Ukraine, including EUR 2 billion for the provision of 155-mm-calibre artillery rounds and missiles. Additionally, EUR 377 million, managed by the Administrator for Operations, were allocated for the EU Military Assistance Mission for Ukraine (EUMAM), which has trained and equipped more than 40,000 Ukrainian soldiers. Additional EUR 5 billion under the newly established Ukraine Assistance Fund (UAF) will allow supporting further the evolving needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine through the provision of both lethal and non-lethal military equipment and training.

The role of the Service for Foreign Policy Instruments

The European Commission acts as administrator for assistance measures through its Service for Foreign Policy Instruments. The Commission also acts as accounting officer and internal auditor for assistance measures through the Directorate-General for Budget and the Internal Audit Service respectively. The administrator is in charge of the financial implementation of assistance measures.

 

European Peace Facility factsheet (click to see the full document) 

Since the establishment of the EPF, the Council has adopted the following assistance measures

  1. 27 November 2023
    Assistance measure to support military actors and navies of coastal states involved in maritime security operations in the Gulf of Guinea

    Reference amount: EUR 21 000 000

    See more here

  2. 27 November 2023
    Assistance measure under the European Peace Facility to support the Somali National Army with lethal military equipment

    Reference amount: EUR 1 000 000

    See more here

  3. 25 September 2023
    Assistance measure under the European Peace Facility to support of Beninese Armed Forces

    Reference amount: EUR 11 750 000

    See more here

  4. 20 July 2023
    Assistance measure under the European Peace Facility to support the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

    Reference amount: EUR 20 000 000

    See more here

  5. 10 July 2023
    Assistance measure under the European Peace Facility to support the Ghana Armed Forces

    Reference amount: EUR 8 250 000

    See more here

  6. 8 June 2023
    Assistance measure under the European Peace Facility to support the Nigerien Armed Forces with military equipment designed to deliver lethal force

    Reference amount: EUR 4 702 998

    See more here

  7. 8 June 2023
    Assistance measure under the European Peace Facility to support the Nigerien Armed Forces

    Reference amount: EUR 297 002

    See more here

  8. 5 May 2023
    Assistance measure under the European Peace Facility to support the Ukrainian Armed Forces through the provision of ammunition

    Reference amount: EUR 1 000 000 000

    See more here

  9. 4 May 2023
    Assistance measure under the European Peace Facility to support the Georgian Defence Forces

    Reference amount: EUR 30 000 000

    See more here

  10. 4 May 2023
    Assistance measure under the European Peace Facility to support the Armed Forces of the Republic of Moldova

    Reference amount: EUR 40 000 000

    See more here

  11. 16 March 2023
    Assistance measure to strengthen the capacities of the Army of the Republic of North Macedonia

    Reference amount: EUR 9 000 000

    See more here

  12. 7 March 2023
    Assistance measure to support the Nigerien Armed Forces in conjunction with the EU military partnership mission in Niger

    Reference amount: EUR 40 000 000

    See more here

  13. 20 February 2023
    Assistance measure to support the Jordanian Armed Forces

    Reference amount: EUR 7 000 000

    See more here

  14. 2 February 2023
    Assistance measure to support the Ukrainian Armed Forces trained by the European Union Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine

    (EUMAM – Implemented by OPS pillar)

    Reference amount: EUR 45 000 000

    See more here

  15. 1 December 2022
    Assistance measure to strengthen the capacities of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina

    Reference amount: EUR 10 000 000

    See more here

  16. 1 December 2022
    Assistance measure to support the Georgian Defence Forces

    Reference amount: EUR 20 000 000

    See more info here

  17. 1 December 2022
    Assistance measure to support the deployment of the Rwanda Defence Force in Mozambique

    Reference amount: EUR 20 000 000

    See more info here

  18. 1 December 2022
    Assistance measure to strengthen the capacities of the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania

    Reference amount: EUR 12 000 000

    See more info here

  19. 1 December 2022
    Assistance measure to support the Lebanese Armed Forces

    Reference amount: EUR 6 000 000

    See more here

  20. 15 November 2022
    Assistance measure to support the Ukrainian Armed Forces trained by the European Union Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (lethal)

    (EUMAM – Implemented by OPS pillar)

    Reference amount: EUR 16 000 000

    See more here

  21. 18 July 2022
    Assistance measure to support the Nigerien Armed Forces

    Reference amount : EUR 25 000 000

    See more here

  22. 30 June 2022
    Assistance measure under the European Peace Facility to support the Armed Forces of the Republic of Moldova

    Reference amount: EUR 40 000 000

    See more here

  23. 9 June 2022
    Assistance measure to strengthen the capacities of the Balkan Medical Task Force

    Reference amount: EUR 6 000 000

    See more here

  24. 21 April 2022
    Assistance measure taking the form of a general programme for support to the African Union for the period 2022-2024

    Reference amount: EUR 600 000 000

    See more here

    Under the General programme, the following actions were approved:

    • 2 March 2023 – Action to support the Somali National Army (SNA III) (EUR 25 000 000)
    • 2 March 2023 – Action to support the military component of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS – for year 2023) (EUR 85 000 000)
    • 11 January 2023 – Action to support the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) against Boko Haram in 2023-2024 (EUR 80 000 000)
    • 8 September 2022 – Action to support the SADC Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM) (EUR 15 000 000)
    • 6 July 2022 – Action to support the military component of AMISOM/ATMIS for the period of 1 January - 31 December 2022 (EUR 120 000 000)
    • 29 March 2022 – Action to support the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) against Boko Haram for the period 1 July - 31 December 2022 (EUR 10 000 000)
  25. 29 March 2022
    Preparatory measure for an assistance measure supporting Gulf of Guinea coastal states' military & navies involved in maritime security operations.

    Reference amount: EUR 115 000

  26. 28 February 2022
    Assistance measure to support the Ukrainian Armed Forces

    Reference amount: EUR 380 000 000

    See more here

  27. 28 February 2022
    Assistance measure for the supply to the Ukrainian Armed Forces of military equipment, and platforms, designed to deliver lethal force

    Reference amount: EUR 4 120 000 000

    See more here

  28. 2 December 2021
    Assistance measure to support the armed forces of the Republic of Mali in conjunction with the EU Training Mission in Mali

    Reference amount: EUR 24 000 000

    See more here

  29. 2 December 2021
    Assistance measure to support the Ukrainian Armed Forces

    Reference amount: EUR 31 000 000

    See more here

  30. 2 December 2021
    Assistance measure to support the Georgian Defence Forces

    Reference amount: EUR 12 750 000

    See more here

  31. 2 December 2021
    Assistance measure to support the Armed Forces of the Republic of Moldova

    Reference amount: EUR 7 000 000

    See more here

  32. 19 November 2021
    Assistance measure to support military units trained by the EU Training Mission in Mozambique

    Reference amount: EUR 85 000 000

    See more here

  33. 4 November 2021
    Assistance measure to support capacity building for the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina

    Reference amount: EUR 10 000 000

    See more here

  34. 30 July 2021
    Urgent measure to support military units trained by the EU Training Mission in Mozambique

    Reference amount: EUR 4 000 000

  35. 22 July 2021
    Assistance measure taking the form of a general programme for support to the African Union in 2021

    Reference amount: EUR 130 000 000

    See more here

    Under the general programme, the following actions were approved:

    • 16 December 2021 – Action to support the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) against Boko Haram for the period 1 January - 30 June 2022 (EUR 10 000 000)
    • 16 December 2021 – Action to support the G5 Sahel Joint Force for the period 1 January 2022 - 30 June 2024 (EUR 35 000 000)
    • 17 November 2021 – Action to support the Somali National Army (SNA) for the period 1 January 2022 - 30 June 2023 (EUR 20 000 000)
    • 20 July 2021 – Action to support the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) for the period 1 July - 31 December 2021 (EUR 65 000 000)

Access to documents held by the European Peace Facility

For the submission of requests for access to documents held by the European Peace Facility (EPF), please take into account that, according to the Council Decision establishing the Facility - (CFSP) 2021/509 of 22 March 2021, the latter consists of two pillars:

  • the Operations pillar, managing certain costs of EU operations having military or defence implications, and
  • the Assistance Measures pillar, managing actions to strengthen the capacities of third States, regional and international organisations relating to military and defence matters and support to military aspects of peace support operations led by a regional or international organisation or by third States.  The European Commission acts as the administrator for assistance measures through the Service for Foreign Policy Instruments.

For the most efficient handling of requests on access to documents held by the EPF, in line with the decision by the EPF Committee of 13 July 2022 on the rules for public access to documents held by the EPF (document ST 12346/2022 INIT), please refer to the following links:

 

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