Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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109. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to detail Ireland’s contribution in 2024 to the European Peace Facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42845/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Established in 2021, the European Peace Facility (EPF) has three main aims: funding the common costs of the EU’s military missions and operations under the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP); financing Peace Support Operations led by international and regional organisations, and partner countries around the world; and strengthening the military and defence capacities of third states and international organisations on military and defence measures.

Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine has led to the unprecedented mobilisation of the EPF to provide military assistance to Ukraine in line with Article 51 of the UN Charter.

The current overall budget ceiling for the EPF for the period from 2021-2027 is approximately €17 billion, having been increased in March to include €5 billion in dedicated funding for Ukraine.

In line with the Programme for Government, all of Ireland’s EPF contributions are directed solely towards non-lethal assistance. Ireland’s contributions to the EPF are calculated proportionally, based on a GNI key and spread across the life-cycle of the EPF from 2021-2027. The total amount payable annually depends on the actual assistance measures and the financing for missions and operations agreed under the EPF, up to the total annual commitment ceilings set out in Council Decision 890/2024.

Contributions under the EPF are shared between the Department of Foreign Affairs (Vote 28), which covers costs of Assistance Measures, and the Department of Defence (Vote 36) which covers costs of the EU’s military CSDP Missions and Operations.

Ireland’s contributions to date under the EPF for 2024 are below. Given the multi annual nature of the instrument, some payments for 2024 were made in 2023. Further contributions will be made before year end 2024, within the agreed payment ceiling.