It is impossible to discuss the European Union's budget for the next seven years without addressing support for Ukraine, which represents an investment in the security of Europe as a whole.
Simon Harris, Ireland's Minister for Finance, made the statement ahead of a Eurogroup meeting in Brussels.
"When we talk about Ukraine and its financing, it is important to frame the discussion correctly: this is fundamentally about European security. It is in all our interests," the minister said.
He referred to a recent series of incidents in Europe involving threats to blow up civilian aircraft as part of the hybrid warfare facing the EU.
"If anyone thinks this war is happening somewhere far away and does not affect us, that is naive, to put it mildly," Harris said. "So the question is not whether you want to give money to Ukraine. The question is whether you want to support the security, freedom and protection of Europeans — our citizens."
Discussing the most likely financing arrangement for Ukraine next year, Harris noted that the loan model used previously was "the solution the European Council was able to agree on" and that there was currently no reason to believe that "a different, more suitable mechanism would be possible this time".
"So I think that is probably the solution we will arrive at. But this issue cannot be discussed in isolation. It must form part of the broader debate on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF)," the minister concluded.
