07/02/2023 (Agence Europe) – Contrary to what we wrote in the article on the discussion in the European Parliament on the instrument to strengthen the European defence industry through joint procurement (EDIRPA) (see EUROPE 13115/11), Dominique Riquet (Renew Europe, French), while he felt that extending the instrument to Ukraine would be “inappropriate” due to the time it takes to make a decision, and that the amount, even if enlarged to €1.5 billion, would be insufficient, his reference to the lack of a legal basis did not concern the inclusion of Ukraine. The reference to the legal basis was to the extension of the eligibility criteria to goods or services from third countries. The legal basis is Article 173 TFEU, which concerns the strengthening of the European industrial base, which, according to Mr Riquet, does not allow the mobilisation of European funds for the purchase of non-European equipment. (CG)