The Portuguese government will ask the European Commission to activate the exception clause that allows the increase in Defense costs do not tell you the deficitThe Ministry of Finance announced on Wednesday.
This clause allows Military expenditure, up to 1.5% The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is not used in the calculation of the budget deficit.
The stability and growth pact requires member states to maintain the public deficit below 3% of GDP and debt below 60% of GDP.
The Portuguese government decision has the support of the opposition. The note from the Ministry of Finance says that The Socialist Party was heard And a consensus was found.
The country is currently in period prior to the campaign After the government of the Social Democratic party fell. The legislative elections are scheduled for May 18.
The Ministry of Finance, directed by Joaquim Miranda Sarmento, says that it is responding to an appeal of Brussels, since the European Commission “has made efforts to have a significant adhesion by the member states to this national closure of repeal.”
The Ministry also explains that the Applications must be made at the end of April. Then they will be evaluated and validated by She European Commission.
Rearm to Europe
Brussels has been encouraging member states to increase military spending in the context of the Ukraine War and the elimination of NATO United States.
At the beginning of March, the president of the committee, Ursula von der Leyen, presented a plan to take the European Union to mobilize until 800 billion euros for defense. This plan was approved by block leaders, in a Extraordinary Cimmeria.
This package, called to Rearm Europe, includes the possibility that countries activate the Budget rules protection clause defined in the stability and growth pact.
This appeal is in line with the NATO objectiveswhich requires an investment in defense above 2% of GDP.
In April, Portuguese prime minister said that Portugal wants to anticipate this goal By 2029, something that Luís Montenegro sees as an opportunity for industry, technology and employment.
