The European Union plans to increase its defensive spending significantly – but some leaders want to go further with the high geopolitical tensions.
The European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union, earlier this month, proposal for measures that can be performed 800 billion euros (867 billion dollars) in new defense spending. These measures were not approved after the various capitals of the European Union, but they were sufficient to enhance the defense shares in the European Union since the announcement of the plan.
“The current measures are” an important step in the right direction “, but” we may need to be more ambitious. “
the Restore the European planAnd, which was announced earlier this month, includes 150 billion euros of loans that member states can reach to invest in defense and security capabilities. However, these funds will not be provided unless at least 65 % of the cost of production in the European Union, Norway or Ukraine.
Ukrainian army soldiers in the twenty -second brigade during tank training with the continued war of Russia in Ukraine in Donetsk Ukraine on October 29, 2023.
Diego Herrera Carsedo Anadolu Agency Gety pictures
The proposal also allows the temporary relaxation of the financial rules of the bloc to enable member states to use general financing for defense at the national level. The lending of the European Investment Bank, the European Union Investment Bank, will be available as well.
“I am happy with the fact that the member states now will get greater financial flexibility within the limits of the stability package to spend more on the defense,” said Mitsotakis, adding that the plan may go further.
“This should not be just a loan issue, as is the case now. I think we also need to discuss the possibility of a facility, an attachment for joint borrowing, which would also provide grants to member states,” he said.
Other leaders, such as Latvian Prime Minister Evica Celia, hit a similar tone.
She said she was supporting the package that is likely to happen – until a year – would likely happen. She said that the country has long been supportive of Europe, stronger spending more on security and defense.
“I think we should discuss more possibilities for financial resources,” Celia said, noting that the administrative burdens should be reduced to support the military industry.
“This is only the beginning.”
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda chanted calls to include more financial tools in the European Union's defense plans.
“I think this is only the beginning,” Amaro told Amaro, explaining that options like grants also need to be considered.
“We would like to see the mixture, as in the case of the epidemic (), we would like to see the mixture of tools, borrowing and grants,” he said.
Looking at beyond the amount of money allocated to defensive spending, Prime Minister Luxembourg Luke Frieden said the most important question is what will be spent on.
“I think funding is always the second thing,” he said. He said, “First you need to know what you are doing … Then we need financing, especially through our national budgets in addition to some European funds,” he said.
“But first, let's discuss how to do that, how to do it better, and how we do it more, and more coordinated,” added Feriden.
However, a member of the European Central Bank and the ruler of France -Francois Felieroy de Gaalo appeared on Thursday more frequency in increasing defensive spending.
According to Reuters He told the translation, and he told French broadcaster BFM TV that although it is necessary for the country to intensify the defense expenditures, “We cannot have a policy of spending everything it requires.”
