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Dozen EU Members Seek Defense Spending Freedom

Thirteen EU member states have requested to activate emergency provisions allowing increased defense spending beyond budget limits as of April 30, 2025.
These requests come as part of a broader EU plan initiated in March 2025 to mobilize €800 billion to strengthen military capabilities amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The emergency measures permit EU member states to increase their defense budgets by up to 1.5% of GDP each year over a four-year period without violating the bloc’s fiscal regulations, aiding the shift toward higher national defense expenditures.
Balazs Ujvari noted that while 13 requests exist now, additional requests might follow, and the total fiscal impact remains uncertain since countries’ actual spending increases are not yet known.
The European Commission will assess requests while ensuring budgetary flexibility and debt sustainability, signaling a coordinated effort to address EU security needs without undermining fiscal discipline.

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Eesti Rahvusringhääling

Center

Half of EU member states have asked for an exemption from debt rules to increase defense spending

Of the five richest countries, only Germany has requested an exemption, which means that the rearmament plan may not bring in as much money for defense as hoped.

30 days ago·Estonia

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Euronews

Center

Just half of EU countries take up Brussels on defence fiscal leeway

The €650 billion estimate it put forward in March, the Commission's spokesperson said on Friday, "is a ballpark figure, it's based on a set of assumptions".

30 days ago·France

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aviationweek.com

Center

Dozen EU Members Seek Defense Spending Freedom

The EU says 12 of its member states have formally said they want to take advantage of an “escape clause” on spending limits to boost outlays for defense.

1 month ago

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Le Monde

Lean Left

Europe's rearmament: 16 EU countries call for exemption from the rules of budgetary stability in order to increase their military expenditure

This exemption clause is provided for in the "Defence White Paper" presented by the European Commission in March. France has not yet requested its activation.

1 month ago·Paris, France

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az Aargauer Zeitung

Bilateral treaties with the EU: how important is the state of play?

Twelve states once rejected the Schengen and Dublin treaties, eleven agreed, but only the people were more decisive, which shows why the question of the nature of the referendum is so controversial.

29 days ago

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Vogon Today

Salvini, Volpi and rearmament in Northern League style

What Raffaele Volpi, former undersecretary of Defense and former president of Copasir (Lega-share), wrote regarding the activation of the safeguard clause to finance military spending by Berlin and Rome's wait-and-see approach Germany was the first in the European Union to activate the clause of the Pact for defense spending , but Italy? Raffaele Volpi (Lega), former undersecretary of Defense and former president of Copasir, who Salvini's League…

30 days ago

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