EU leaders give nod to plans to strengthen bloc's defense capabilities

Brussels [Belgium], March 7: European Union (EU) leaders on Thursday greenlighted plans to enhance the bloc's defense capabilities, aiming to bolster Europe's security amid shifting U.S. commitments under U.S. President Donald Trump.
At a one-day special summit here, the leaders endorsed the ReArm Europe plan introduced by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday.
The EU leaders agreed to activate the national escape clause under the Stability and Growth Pact in a coordinated manner, which allows for increased defense spending and provides immediate budgetary flexibility across EU member states, according to a statement released after the meeting.
They called on the Commission to explore further measures, while ensuring debt sustainability, to facilitate significant defense spending at the national level in all member states.
The leaders also acknowledged the Commission's proposal for a new EU instrument that would offer member states up to 150 billion euros (161.8 billion U.S. dollars) in loans backed by the EU budget, according to the statement. They urged the European Council to "examine this proposal as a matter of urgency."
Trump has been pressing European partners to take more responsibility for their own defense, warning that the U.S. may not protect its North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies who fail to meet spending targets. His remarks have raised concerns in the EU, prompting calls for stronger collective defense efforts.
Source: Xinhua News Agency