European Peace Facility (2021–2027)

KEY POINTS

Objectives of the assistance measures

The main objectives of the measures are the provision of financial, technical or material assistance to:

• strengthen the military and defence capacities and resilience of non-EU partner countries and regional and international organisations;
• support the military aspects of peace support operations led by regional or international organisations or partner countries;
• contribute rapidly and effectively to the military responses of partner countries and regional and international organisations in crisis situations;
• contribute effectively and efficiently to conflict prevention, stabilisation and peace consolidation, including by carrying out training, advising and mentoring tasks in the security sector and in other pre-conflict or post-conflict situations;
• support cooperation on security and defence between the EU and individual non-EU countries or regional or international organisations.

Assistance measures must:

• be consistent with the policies and objectives of EU external action, aiming to build peace, prevent conflicts and strengthen international security;
• comply with EU law, policies and strategies, in particular:
  • the EU strategic framework to support security sector reform and the integrated approach to external conflicts and crises,
  • the EU strategic approach to women, peace and security,
  • the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions;
• respect the obligations of the EU and its Member States under international law, in particular international human rights law and humanitarian law;
• not prejudice the specific character of the security and defence policy of a Member State;
• not contravene the security and defence interests of the EU or its Member States.

The Council of the European Union may approve urgent measures that are awaiting a decision on whether they will be funded under the EPF.

Organisation and management

The Council and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy ensure consistency between measures financed under the EPF and other initiatives in the CFSP area. They are supported by the European External Action Service, which is assisted by the Service for Foreign Policy Instruments of the European Commission.

The organisation of the EPF is as follows.

• The EPF is managed by the Facility Committee, with representatives from every Member State, backed up by administrative and accounting staff. The chair of the committee must be a representative of the Member State holding the presidency of the Council of the European Union.
• The committee includes:
  • an administrator for operations;
  • the operational commanders of each operation and mission;
  • an administrator for assistance measures.
• The Council takes political decisions, such as where assistance should be allocated, based on proposals from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

Monitoring and compliance

EPF proposals include a conflict sensitivity and context analysis, a risk and impact assessment and appropriate safeguards, controls, mitigating and flanking (complementary) elements and arrangements for monitoring and evaluation. These aim to ensure:

• the proper and efficient use of assets, for the purposes for which they have been provided;
• sufficient maintenance of the assets, to ensure usability and operational availability over their life cycles;
• that the assets will not be lost or transferred without the consent of the committee to people or entities other than those identified in the arrangements at the end of their life cycles or at the expiry or termination of the assistance measure;
• compliance with any other requirements established by the Council.

Budget

The EPF has a financial ceiling of €17 040 000 000 for the 2021–2027 multiannual financial framework period. This is the maximum amount that the Member States can decide to allocate. The EPF is financed outside of the EU general budget. From 18 March 2024, an amount of €5 000 000 000 in current prices was dedicated to providing additional support to Ukraine.

Assistance measures

A variety of assistance measures in the form of military training and building capacity have been approved under the EPF for partners as wide-ranging as Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cabo Verde, Djibouti, Georgia, Jordan, Mali, Moldova, Mozambique, Niger, North Macedonia and Senegal, along with the African Union.

In June 2022, Decision (CFSP) 2022/906 was adopted to strengthen the capacities of the Balkan Medical Task Force, a regional initiative bringing together six Western Balkan countries with the aim of providing a quick and effective response to disaster-struck countries or regions by using the existing military medical capacities of participating nations.

In July 2022, Decision (CFSP) 2022/1093 was adopted with the aim of further supporting Moldova’s army and enhancing national security, stability and resilience in the defence sector. Building on previous support provided by the EPF, this assistance measure allows the armed forces of Moldova (which has since been granted EU candidate status) to enhance their operational effectiveness and interoperability while participating in EU military common security and defence policy missions, thereby providing better protection to civilians in crises and emergencies.

In February 2023, Decision (CFSP) 2023/231 was adopted to support the Ukrainian armed forces trained by the EU Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine. It was amended by Decision (CFSP) 2023/2677, raising the financial reference amount for the measure from €45 million to €55 million and extending the duration of Decision (CFSP) 2023/231 to 60 months.

In April 2025, Decision (CFSP) 2025/809 was adopted to provide the armed forces of Moldova with military equipment designed to deliver lethal force. The measure focuses on short-range air defence equipment and related support, with a financial reference amount of €20 million, strengthening Moldova’s defence capabilities and interoperability with EU operations.

Also in April 2025, Decision (CFSP) 2025/823 was adopted to support the army of North Macedonia. The assistance measure aims to strengthen national resilience and improve operational capabilities, especially of the Light Infantry Battalion Group. It includes non-lethal support such as surveillance technology, engineering vehicles, communication systems and training, with a financial reference amount of €15 million.

In July 2025, Decision (CFSP) 2025/1333 established an assistance measure in favour of the armed forces of Senegal to help secure its borders and counter armed threats in the Sahel region. It provides non-lethal equipment and infrastructure, including surveillance systems, river bases and obstacle courses, with a reference amount of €10 million.

Also in July 2025, Decision (CFSP) 2025/1340 designated Cabo Verde as a new beneficiary of the EPF. The measure supports the coastguard through the procurement of an ocean patrol vessel and pilot training, strengthening maritime security in the Atlantic and Gulf of Guinea regions. The financial reference amount is €12 million.

Also in July 2025, Decision (CFSP) 2025/1554 was adopted to support the Djibouti armed forces in enhancing their capacity to safeguard sovereignty and maritime security in the Red Sea. The assistance measure provides non-lethal equipment, infrastructure and services, including training, restoration of maritime assets, a coastal surveillance station and rapid intervention assets for the navy. The financial reference amount is €10 million, the duration is 42 months and the measure is implemented by Défense Conseil International.

Also in July 2025, Decision (CFSP) 2025/1562 was adopted to support the Albanian armed forces in strengthening national security and resilience and enhancing their participation in EU common security and defence policy missions and operations, including the Rapid Deployment Capacity. The measure provides non-lethal equipment, namely tactical vehicles, engineering vehicles and light armoured multipurpose vehicles, together with related supplies and training. The financial reference amount is €15 million, the duration is 36 months and the measure is implemented by Agenzia Industrie Difesa.

Adoption of urgent measures following Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine

• Further to an urgent request for assistance from the Ukrainian government on 25 February 2022, the Council adopted two decisions regarding assistance measures under the EPF. Applied with immediate effect from 28 February 2022, they aim to help strengthen the capabilities and resilience of the Ukrainian armed forces to defend their country and protect the civilian population against the ongoing military aggression (see summary):
  • Decision (CFSP) 2022/338 relates to the supply of military equipment and related platforms designed to deliver lethal force;
  • Decision (CFSP) 2022/339 relates to the provision of equipment and supplies not designed to deliver lethal force, such as personal protective equipment, first aid kits and fuel.
• In May 2023, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2023/927, providing €1 billion of support under the EPF for ammunition for the Ukrainian armed forces.
• The agreed measures will be implemented by Member States’ defence ministries and/or armed forces. Member States have agreed to permit the transit of military equipment, including accompanying personnel, through their territories, including their airspace.

Repeal

The decision repeals and replaces Decision (CFSP) 2015/528.