Germany likely to ask for EU leeway on defence spending, finance minister says

Germany triggers EU’s emergency clause for defense spending

Acting Finance Minister Jörg Kukies also pushes for wider definition of security investment.

Germany wants to be able to implement its 900 billion rearmament plan, but to do so it needs a concession from the European Union. For this reason, as announced by a spokesperson for the Ministry of Finance, it has already asked the Commission that defense spending be exempted from the limits imposed by the Stability Pact. “An increase in defense spending is essential - said the spokesperson - Therefore, on 19 March, the European Commission prop…

The spokesman for the Berlin Finance Ministry refers in particular to the “coordinated activation of the national safeguard clause of the Stability and Growth Pact.” (BEND)

Germany is now Europe's top defence spender, says SIPRI arms data

The deployment of a €100 billion special budget for military gear has propelled Berlin to the top of the table in Europe.

On 6 May 1955 Germany joined NATO. In Brussels the historic step is already celebrated this Monday. The security policy environment is bleak.

The wars in Ukraine and Gaza are taking their toll: spending on the military has been growing as much as ever since the end of the Cold War. Germany has moved to fourth place worldwide for the first time after the US, China and Russia.