Interview with Dr Peter Wagner,
Head of the Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI), European Commission, Brussels
The European: Dr Wagner, you are the Head of the European Commission’s Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI) which is under the responsibility of the High Representative of the Union/Vice-President of the European Commission (HR/VP). Could you briefly sum up the range of actions under your service?
Peter Wagner: FPI’s mission is to turn EU foreign policy into action and contribute to making the EU a stronger security, geopolitical and geoeconomic actor on the global stage.
FPI has a unique global footprint (in high-income countries, emerging countries, fragile and conflict-affected countries, work on transnational threats) and the capacity to respond fast and flexibly to crises.
FPI is particularly strong in the fields of peace, security and defence. It designs and implements peace, security and crisis response actions financed by the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI). It also manages the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) budget, and we are the administrator of assistance measures to third countries and partners under the European Peace Facility (EPF).
The European: How does FPI cooperate with the European External Action Service (EEAS) and other Commission Directorates General (DGs) to ensure a coherent and effective workshare?
Peter Wagner: FPI and the EEAS were married at birth! Both report directly to the HR/VP. As part of the European Commission and given our mandate, we are however working with many other Commission DGs on both external relations and internal issues.
The European: In response to Russia’s war of aggression, assistance for Ukraine by the EU and Member States amounts to more than €82bn. Does FPI contribute to this collective effort?
Peter Wagner: Absolutely. In Ukraine, FPI was present since the beginning of the Russian aggression in 2014/15. In 2022, some of our actions started less than a week after the start of Russian full-scale invasion on 24 February 2022. This includes the vital supply of military equipment to Ukrainian armed forces through the EPF, humanitarian mine action to enable people to return to de-occupied territories and resume agricultural production, access to education in frontline communities, assistance with export and import through the refurbishment of solidarity lanes promoting alternative routes to the Black Sea.
Furthermore, we service a Ukrainian government centre which ensures 24/7 monitoring and fight against Russian disinformation. It also delivers assistance in the investigation of war crimes from the local prosecution teams to the international investigations at the International Criminal Court or at the International Centre for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression.
We have provided CBRN technical assistance, so the Ukrainian authorities are better able to protect their critical infrastructure. We also foster nuclear security by supporting the partnership between the International Atomic Energy Agency and the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine (SNRIU), including at the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant.
The European: Can you give us some details on the financial aspect of this support?
Peter Wagner: The above actions, which generally aim at protecting civilians and preparing for early recovery and reintegration, amount to nearly €200m.
FPI is also responsible for the financial management of the civilian CSDP mission in Ukraine (EUAM Ukraine).
In addition, we are the administrator of the EPF, through which substantial military support is channelled to Ukraine. This includes €1.5bn financed via the 2024 windfall profit from already mobilised, frozen Russian assets. For the next segment of expected €1.9bn, the EU has proposed to allocate €1bn to the Ukrainian industry.
The European: Beyond Ukraine, the eastern neighbourhood plays a key role in the Commission’s next mandate given the European leaders’ decision to reignite the enlargement process. How does this link to your work in the eastern neighbourhood?
Peter Wagner: Given political developments, we indeed had to strengthen our presence in the eastern neighbourhood in the last few years. There is a strong emphasis on Ukraine and the impact of Russia’s aggression on the wider region. In Moldova for example, we support the resilience of Moldova to foreign interference, the consequences of the energy crisis and the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. The support notably focuses on addressing hybrid threats, secure service delivery, cybersecurity, and strengthening the ability of authorities to provide services to Ukrainian refugees and host communities.
Since 2021, five EPF assistance measures for an overall amount of €137m were adopted to enhance the operational effectiveness of the armed forces of Moldova, accelerate compliance with Union standards and interoperability, and thereby better protect civilians in crises and emergencies.
The European: Are you also present in the Western Balkans and the Caucasus?
Peter Wagner: In the Western Balkans, similarly to Moldova, the EU notably helps to counter hybrid threats from Russia and promote peacebuilding activities such as dialogue between communities.
EPF assistance measures (€35m) are benefitting the armed forces of five Western Balkans partners. The general objectives are to upgrade the capabilities and equipment of specific units of the beneficiaries’ armed forces; to increase their contribution to military CSDP missions and operations, and other international peacekeeping operations; and to better protect civilians.
We are also present in the Caucasus where we use inter alia mine action as a confidence building measure to underpin the EU facilitated high-level discussions between the EU (President of the Council), and the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia. We are also supporting a series of initiatives over 10 years, focusing on prevention of the escalation of violence, including in Nagorno-Karabakh.
The first assistance measure to support the armed forces of Armenia under the EPF, adopted on 22 July 2024, foresees the provision of a fully deployable logistics camp for approximately 500 soldiers and a maximum reference amount of €10m.
The European: Dr Wagner, let me finally mention a very successful project that is under the responsibility of your service: the CBRN Centres of Excellence (CoE) initiative, which will be celebrating its 15th anniversary next year. Can you conclude our interview by telling our readers in what way this initiative is a true success story serving as an example?
Peter Wagner: Through this initiative the Commission is recognised internationally as a credible partner in combating the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. A proof of its success is also confirmed by the many requests of membership we received from countries in Africa, Central and South America. Its success is mainly due to a few key characteristics:
- The stable network. This extensive network of over 500 participants, across 64 countries, facilitates robust technical cooperation and allows for the efficient exchange of knowledge and best practices across regions.
- The demand-driven approach ensures that initiatives are tailored to the specific needs and priorities of the participating countries, which enhances their ownership, relevance, and impact.
- The programme’s expertise that is carefully tailored to the geopolitical dynamics and specific needs of the regions it serves, ensuring that the support provided is both relevant and effective.
The European: Thank you, Dr Wagner. Your service has the chance to help people; I wish you every success.
The interview was led by Hartmut Bühl.
