More than half of EU countries intends to take advantage of an exemption that allows them exceed the budget limits to increase military expenditure, As stated by the European Council. The European Commission proposed at the beginning of this year that members could use an emergency clause Spend up to 1.5% of GDP in defense investments During the next four years without violating the rules on public deficit and debt.
The measure was adopted after the Trump administration suggested that Europe should pay more to defend themselves And in the middle of security concerns for the current Russia war in Ukraine. Germany and Poland guide the group of countries that indicated that they want to do so, said the EU in a statement on Wednesday.
Hungary and Slovakia, whose governments are considered related to MoscowThey also appear on the list. Among the other EU Member States who have decided to request the activation of the escape clause so called Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Greece, Portugal, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Croatia and Bulgaria, according to the European Council.
“We are still open to New requests for exemption“Added the commissioner for the EU economy, Valdis Dombrovskis. The clause could allow you to spend hundreds of billions of euros in the rearmament of the continent here until 2030.
The new German Chancellor, willing to spend more in defense
While Military expenditure increased by 31% since 2021Many Member States are willing to further increase the expense for the defense. The German chancellor coming, Friedrich Merz, said that Europe has to act quickly for safety reasons.
“In view of the Threats to freedom and peace on our continentThe rule for our defense must be “whatever it is”, he said in March. When he announced in March a package of EU defense measures, the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, spoke of no uncertain terms The dangers that hid in Europe.
“We are in an era of Rearm. And Europe is arranged in Increases the defense expenditure massively“He said.” Both to respond to the short -term urgency and support of Ukraine and to deal with the long -term need to take much more responsibilities for our European security. “
