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Some European Union member states have reservations about Türkiye's expanded participation in the bloc's €150 billion ($174.53 billion) joint defense financing program, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Tuesday.
"Some member states have reservations about Türkiye's greater participation, and this is taken into account," Kallas told members of the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee (AFET) during a year-end assessment of EU foreign policy.
Kallas noted the deadline for joining the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) program has passed.
"The deadline was the end of November. So the participating countries are set," Kallas said.
"Of course, there is also a section under SAFE where member states can choose their own partners, and there are limits on how much can be procured from other countries. You know these limits very well," she noted.
Kallas also addressed the EU's enlargement policy, stating that the expectation of having more than the current 27 members by 2030 is "a realistic goal."
Kallas emphasized that the EU possesses the means to influence the war's outcome through financial leverage over Moscow.
"Europe has the economic power to end this war, and power only works when it is used. Therefore, the EU should work on the compensation loan and we should also impose more sanctions on Russia," Kallas said.
She noted that according to the International Monetary Fund, Ukraine needs €135 billion for 2026 and 2027.
The European Commission has proposed financing this through various means, including a compensation loan using frozen Russian assets for Kyiv.
On the Gaza ceasefire, Kallas acknowledged implementation problems.
"It is not working as it should," Kallas said.
She noted that everyone welcomed the Gaza ceasefire, the peace plan and the United Nations Security Council resolution on Palestine, but these must also be reflected in implementation.
Kallas said proposed sanctions against Israel remain on the table, noting some member states want to advance measures due to ongoing violence in the West Bank, while others believe everything should be shelved because of the ceasefire.
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