BRUSSELS (Reuters) -Twelve European Union international locations have requested activation of the “nationwide escape clause” from EU deficit guidelines as a way to enhance their defence spending, the European Fee stated on Wednesday.
The Fee, which is the EU’s govt physique, has proposed permitting member states to lift defence spending by 1.5% of gross home product annually for 4 years with none disciplinary steps that might usually kick in as soon as a deficit is greater than 3% of GDP.
In a press release, the Fee stated Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia and Slovenia have made requests, and that extra requests are anticipated at a later stage.
A spokesperson for the Polish presidency of the Council of the EU stated that whereas 12 international locations have already utilized, 4 extra “will achieve this shortly.”
The Fee will now assess the requests.
“The Fee will proceed to make sure that this flexibility is coordinated and helps EU international locations to transit in the direction of greater defence budgets whereas preserving sound price range insurance policies,” stated Valdis Dombrovskis, the bloc’s financial system commissioner.
(Reporting by Lili Bayer and Andrew Grey; Modifying by Leslie Adler and Rod Nickel)
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