12 EU nations seek to activate ‘escape clause’ to boost their defence spending
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EU members Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia and Slovenia have requested activation of the “national escape clause” from EU deficit rules.
PHOTO: REUTERS
BRUSSELS - Twelve European Union countries have requested activation of the “national escape clause” from European Union deficit rules in order to boost their defence spending, the European Commission said on April 30.
The European Commission, the EU’s executive body, has proposed allowing member states to raise defence spending by 1.5 per cent of gross domestic product each year for four years without any disciplinary steps that would normally kick in once a deficit is above 3 per cent of gross domestic product.
In a statement, the Commission said Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia and Slovenia have made requests, and that additional requests are expected at a later stage.
As a next step, the Commission will assess the requests.
“The Commission will continue to ensure that this flexibility is coordinated and helps EU countries to transit towards higher defence budgets while preserving sound budget policies,” Mr Valdis Dombrovskis, the bloc’s economy commissioner, said. REUTERS
