Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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The €13 billion funding in question will end up in the hands of armaments companies. It represents a 22-fold increase in EU investment in defence spending, directly as opposed to indirectly. On 2 May in a communique, the Commission stated in the area of defence:

Europe will need to take greater responsibility for protecting its interests, values and the European way of life, in complementarity with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. While the Union cannot substitute member states' efforts in defence, it can complement and leverage their collaboration in developing the defence capabilities needed to address our common security challenges.

The Commission proposed a strengthened European Defence Fund that will aim to "foster the competitiveness and innovation capacity of the defence industry". In addition, the Commission proposed the Union enhances its strategic transport infrastructures so as to make them fit for military mobility through the Connecting Europe Facility. A dedicated budget of €6.5 billion will be earmarked for this.

Does the Minister accept there will be a substantial increase in spending and the Commission sees this MFF as representing a further tilt towards defence spending? It places an emphasis, even in the title of its speeches, in this regard.