Meloni called on the EU to ease budget constraints due to the energy crisis — Politico
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has called on the European Commission to relax EU fiscal rules amid the energy crisis.
This was reported by Politico.
In a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Meloni proposed exempting investments and extraordinary expenditures necessary to overcome the energy crisis from the Stability and Growth Pact.
The document requires EU countries to keep their budget deficits below 3% of GDP.
According to Meloni, the war in Iran, tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, and the consequences of Russian aggression against Ukraine are already having a serious impact on energy prices, as well as on household and business expenses.
The Italian prime minister emphasized that if defense spending has already been exempted from budgetary constraints, a similar approach should be applied to energy security spending.
Meloni also warned that it would be difficult for Italy to justify its participation in the EU’s SAFE defense funding program if Brussels does not agree to similar flexibility regarding energy spending.
Melonispoke out against a possible withdrawal of U.S. troops from Italy — Reuters.
NATO stated that it remains confident in its defense capabilities following the U.S. decision to withdraw some troops from Germany. The Alliance says this is a signal for Europe to invest more in its own security.
