On January 30-31, in Brussels, the head of the Ministry of Defense participated in an informal meeting of EU defense ministers organized by the Belgian Presidency. EU defense ministers held a series of working meetings on support for Ukraine, EU military involvement in other parts of the world and support for the European defense industry.

Issues related to the transfer of one million rounds of ammunition to Ukraine were also one of the topics of discussion.

This is an initiative from last year. Up until March 2024, this million should be handed over. It probably won't be done by March, but there is good news. I have been very supportive of this initiative. Immediately after becoming minister, I met with Estonia's defense minister. Today, he received great support. This is already, one could say, our joint initiative. Poland is one of the leaders of this process of providing ammunition, providing military equipment to Ukraine

- noted Deputy Prime Minister.

Another issues we discussed was the support for the defense industry. Here, too, our great endorsement regarding involvement. Such a shift of the defense industry in Poland and Europe to a much faster track. Reacting and acting. It is necessary to launch all production capacities. We need to do this both in Poland and in Europe

- W. Kosiniak - Kamysz added.

The heads of the EU defense ministries also discussed the possibilities of supporting the European defense industry, in particular the issues that should be included in the planned European Defense Industry Strategy and the European Defense Industry Program.

The topic of the required capabilities needed to organize military missions in the future, including the EU Rapid Deployment Capacity, was also raised. The ministers discussed the threads of the security situation in the Sahel and Gulf of Guinea regions and recent developments in the Red Sea, including the EU's efforts to preserve freedom of navigation.

An important decision, for which the High Representative thanked Poland very much. This is also the decision we made recently to create battle groups for the rapid deployment force. For these rapid deployment forces, in accordance with the Strategic Compass adopted after 2022

- said Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers.

By the end of 2025, these rapid deployment forces should achieve full readiness. A gap has been created, I also asked what is the reason for this gap, and why is there a gap, we have to answer this question for ourselves, but these capabilitiesof manning and readiness of the battle groups would have been unimplemented had it not been for Poland's position. From July 2024 to June 2025, Poland will establish battle groups that will be on duty. They will be in readiness for rapid deployment. Without this, without bridging the gap, which was created in such an unexpected way, it would have been impossible to achieve the capability by the end of 2025. The Strategic Compass would not have been fulfilled. I received a huge thanks today from the High Representative, who twice emphasized here the role of Poland and our commitment

- stressed Deputy Prime Minister.

The meeting of EU defense ministers also addressed Ukraine's long-term support, assessed the progress of the EUMAM Ukraine training mission and the joint European ammunition procurement initiative, and the prospects for the establishment of the proposed Ukraine Assistance Fund.

On Tuesday, January 30, the head of the Ministry of Defense signed a letter of intent on military redeployment procedures with the ministers: Kingdom of the Netherlands, and Germany. As the Deputy Prime Minister said during the meeting, the signing of the letter will facilitate and accelerate the movement of Allied troops through the territories of our countries.

The main benefit of the enactment of this document will be harmonization in the broadest sense, including processes for unifying procedures, especially during the planning and movement of troops within the framework of relevant Allied plans, across the territory of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Germany and Poland. This trilateral initiative also gives us a chance to create conditions for simplifying procedures in crossing borders between our countries. The proposed solutions developed through this cooperation will create opportunities not only for our countries, but also for the entire European Union to build more effective solutions in the area of military mobility

- emphasized the head of the Ministry of Defense.