The European Commission will support military spending and ignore the deficit

The European Commission (EC) will not react if the member states violate financial discipline in defense spending. This was announced by the head of the EC Ursula von der Leyen on February 3.

"In extraordinary times it is possible to take extraordinary measures. We in the European Commission will be much more flexible on the implementation of the stability and growth pact on defense investment," she said at an informal EU defense summit, broadcast by the EC's YouTube channel.

According to Von der Leyen, countries will have more budgetary space to increase defense spending.

In addition, the EC head noted that additional defense spending should be financed from the national budgets of European Union (EU) member states. Von der Leyen also called financing from private banks and the European Investment Bank possible for the implementation of defense spending.

At the same time, the speaker indicated her intention to use the tools at her disposal to increase defense spending within the EU.

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On the same day, French President Emmanuel Macron announced plans to double the country's defense budget. He added that the main priority is the security of state borders.

Earlier, on January 29, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte after a telephone conversation with the head of the Pentagon Pete Hegseth promised to increase defense spending of the alliance.

Prior to that, on January 21, US President Donald Trump said he would push North Atlantic Treaty Organisation member states to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP and spend more than Washington to support Ukraine.

On January 16, NATO Secretary General Rutte urged the alliance countries to switch to a wartime mindset. According to him, this is necessary to prepare for upcoming dangers and prevent conflicts.