Member states request more budgetary space for defense
The national escape clause, a mechanism that is part of the ‘ReArm Europe’ plan to strengthen the EU’s defense capabilities, gives member states the option to exclude defense spending from the calculation of the budget deficit.
The intention is to activate it for a period of four years for a maximum of 1.5 percent of the gross domestic product per year. The Commission hopes to unlock up to 650 billion euros in additional national defense investments.
The Commission had set April 30 as a deadline, hoping to activate the mechanism for as many member states as possible and to send a strong signal. In addition to Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, and Slovenia have submitted an application.
The deadline is not strict. The European Commission expects several more applications in the coming days. The Polish presidency suggested this week that the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, and Croatia will also come forward.
