Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/313634 
Year of Publication: 
2025
Series/Report no.: 
Kiel Policy Brief No. 186
Publisher: 
Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel), Kiel
Abstract: 
We study how Europe could replace US support for Ukraine both (i) financially, in terms of the fiscal effort required, and (ii) militarily, in terms of weapon production. Financial effort: The financial challenge of replacing US aid is limited. Currently, European governments are spending just 0.1% of their annual GDP on bilateral aid for Ukraine - a minor effort To replace US aid flows and keep total support at the same level: Europe needs to double its yearly support to an average level of 0.21% of GDP. This is less than half of what Denmark and the Baltics are already doing and on a level of what Poland and the Netherlands do. In short: Europe as a whole would need to follow Scandinavia's or Poland's example. In absolute terms (billions of Euro), the biggest European countries and the EU Institutions will be decisive. To replace US aid and get to 0.21% of GDP, Europe as a whole needs to increase its yearly aid flow from currently €44 bn per year to €82 bn per year. The biggest donors for that effort will be the EU institutions (Commission and EIB), who will need to increase their annual support from currently €16 bn to €36 bn per year. Next comes Germany (from currently €6 billion to at least €9 billion per year), then Great Britain (from €5 to € 6.5 bn per year), then France (from currently just €1.5 bn to €6 bn per year), Italy (from currently just €0.8 bn to €4.5 bn) and Spain (from just €0.5 bn to €3 bn per year). All remaining European donors would need to move from €14 bn to €16.5 bn per year. To avoid freeriding, we recommend offering financial incentives to those countries giving aid to Ukraine. Big Ukrainian donors (in % of GDP) could get priority access to any new EU-level defense financing scheme. Large Ukraine aid could also be exempt from EU fiscal rules, or deducted from each nations' contributions to the EU budget. (...)
Subjects: 
Military aid
Foreign aid
War
Ukraine
Europe
Russia
Arms Trade
United States
US
Geoeconomics
Militärhilfe
Auslandshilfe
Krieg
Ukraine
Europa
Russland
Waffenhandel
Vereinigte Staaten
USA
Geo-Ökonomie
Document Type: 
Research Report

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