26/05/23 (Agence Europe) – On Wednesday 24 May, the ambassadors of the Member States to the European Union (Coreper) approved the European Commission’s proposal to take €240 million from the European Defence Industry Reinforcement through common Procurement Act (EDIRPA) to finance part of the budget to be allocated to the Act in Support of Ammunition Production (ASAP) (see EUROPE 13174/1). The draft Act is the subject of intense negotiations, a senior diplomat said on Friday 26 May. In his view, the Member States share the general objective of the proposal, but “the most difficult point” in the legislative text concerns the extent of the powers to be given to the Commission to take decisions on increasing ammunition production. (MB)