The European Union's Council approved a EUR 12.75 million support package aimed at bolstering Georgia's military and defence capabilities.

The EU will assist Georgia with non-lethal medical and engineering equipment, as well as civilian-type mobility assets, over the course of 36 months, in order to strengthen internal resilience and peace, according to the Council.

The EU Council underlined in its statement that "this support measure would help boost the capacity of the Georgian Defence Forces, especially their ability to deliver their services to citizens in crises or emergency circumstances."

The measure, which was approved under the European Peace Facility, the EU's off-budget funding mechanism, also intends to "improve the capability and interoperability of local armed forces to participate" to military missions and operations under the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CSPD).

Moldova and Ukraine, two additional EU-associated countries, will get EUR 7 million and EUR 31 million in support, respectively. Mali will get EUR 24 million in help in the meanwhile.