Milan, July 2 (LaPresse) – “I understand that the timing is longer and therefore we could perhaps use it to finance commitments for 2027.” This was stated by Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, in an interview with La Stampa, regarding access to EU SAFE funds allocated to increasing defense investments by EU member states. “Loyalty to the government does not prevent me from saying what I believe is right. My job is to represent the needs of Defense. Then decisions are up to the executive, and I am sure that commitments will be met,” the minister stressed. In relation to NATO requests to increase military spending up to 5% of GDP per year, “Italy has already seriously started the path agreed at the Hague summit. Today we present ourselves with spending equal to 2.8% of GDP: 2% allocated to defense in the strict sense, 0.8% to security spending. So we are already significantly ahead on the path toward the targets,” Crosetto underlined. Italy “will do its part, this year it was not possible to fully allocate the 0.15% increase due to the infringement procedure, but we hope it can be recovered already in the next budget exercise. The important thing is to maintain a credible trajectory,” the minister added.
Defense, Crosetto: “EU funds only in 2027 but we will meet commitments”
Milan, July 2 (LaPresse) – “I understand that the timing is longer and therefore we could perhaps use it to finance commitments for 2027.” This was stated by Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, in an interview with La Stampa, regarding access to EU SAFE funds allocated to increasing defense investments by EU member states. “Loyalty to the government does not prevent me from saying what I believe is right. My job is to represent the needs of Defense. Then decisions are up to the executive, and I am sure that commitments will be met,” the minister stressed. In relation to NATO requests to increase military spending up to 5% of GDP per year, “Italy has already seriously started the path agreed at the Hague summit. Today we present ourselves with spending equal to 2.8% of GDP: 2% allocated to defense in the strict sense, 0.8% to security spending. So we are already significantly ahead on the path toward the targets,” Crosetto underlined. Italy “will do its part, this year it was not possible to fully allocate the 0.15% increase due to the infringement procedure, but we hope it can be recovered already in the next budget exercise. The important thing is to maintain a credible trajectory,” the minister added.
