In a continuation of Oslo’s defence relationship with Brussels, the Norwegian government has voluntarily sent €22 million worth of aid to the EU’s military war chest for Ukraine despite not being an EU member.
The European Council confirmed Tuesday, July 25th that Norway will make the financial contribution to the European Peace Facility primarily to fund ammunition and spare parts for German-made Leopard II tanks currently seeing combat on the Eastern front.
A steadfast NATO member since 1949, Norway has taken a robust pro-Kyiv line since the war began as its centre-left Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre promised $7 billion in aid to Ukraine over the next five years.
While Oslo’s traditionally protective attitude towards its national sovereignty and oil revenue has prevented it from joining the EU, Norway does have a strong military relationship with the EU, a fact strengthened by the war in Ukraine.
Norway already partially participates in the EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy, which allows for cooperation between the EU and third-party countries in areas such as crisis management, conflict prevention, and peacekeeping operations, and contributes to EU-led military and civilian missions and operations.
Norway is also active in the European Defense Agency (EDA) and has bilateral defence partnerships with its EU neighbours Sweden, Denmark, and Finland.
This is the second endowment Norway has made to the European Peace Facility. The EPF is designed to bankroll the EU’s foreign policy objectives and has been the EU’s primary funding vector for the war in Ukraine. In October of last year, the Norwegian government decided to grant an initial €14.5 million to the fund, bringing its total contribution to €36.5 million.
The EU’s Peace Facility fund has earned heavy criticism throughout the war from military pundits as representing a poor and lethargic attempt to rival NATO as well as compromising the neutrality of some member states.
In March, Estonia and five other counties were revealed to have scammed the EU out of millions in defence expenditure after they fraudulently billed Brussels for new equipment while sending older weapons to Ukraine.
Support for joining the EU has fluctuated in Norway over the years and is championed by the ruling Labour Party and many smaller parties. The pro-EU European Movement group recently placed support for joining the EU at just 35%, which it claims is the highest level in twelve years.
