The European Commission presented last month a “White Defense Paper” in which it proposed, among other things, to the member states to devote up to 1.5% of their gross domestic product (GDP) for four years to military spending, without fear of breaking the budgetary rules which frame the deficits and the debt.
Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia and Finland decided to request the activation of this budgetary exemption clause, said a press release.
EU countries, which seek to rearm in the face of the Russian threat and the risk of American disengagement from the European continent, had until the end of April to make their intentions known.
Twelve of them formally asked to benefit from this exemption, according to the European Commission, and four others have undertaken to do so, according to the EU council, which brings together the member states.
Where are France, Italy and Spain?
The activation of this clause should make it possible to mobilize up to 650 billion euros by 2030 to rearm the continent.
Several countries, including France, Spain or Italy, have so far not expressed their interest, even if they have undertaken to increase their military spending.
“We remain open to more requests” of exemption, said the European Commissioner for the economy Valdis Dombrovskis, quoted in a statement on Wednesday.
326 billion in 2024
The military spending of the 27 have increased by more than 31% since 2021, reaching 326 billion euros in 2024.
“It’s better, but it is not enough,” said the president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen in March.
