The Italian government has officially requested 8 billion euros from the European Commission under the SAFE defense instrument. These funds are intended to help finance the country's military expenditures on more favorable borrowing terms. This was reported by Economichna Pravda citing Reuters, according to the portal PromPolitInform.
The “Securing Europe for the Future” (SAFE) program utilizes a joint borrowing scheme backed by the EU budget. The mechanism is designed to enhance the defense capabilities of member states and facilitate compliance with updated NATO financial targets.
Defense funding and political debates
Although Rome’s total eligibility under this program stands at 14.9 billion euros, the government has decided to request 8 billion euros for now. This decision followed lengthy discussions within the ruling coalition, where representatives of Matteo Salvini’s League party expressed concerns regarding the necessity of such measures.
Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, a member of the Brothers of Italy party, provided significant support for the initiative. He emphasized that utilizing EU funds would allow Italy to secure necessary resources for defense needs at lower interest rates than those available through market mechanisms.
Social context and challenges
Government plans to increase military spending have met resistance from opposition political forces. Critics of Giorgia Meloni’s government argue that public funds should be prioritized to support the population amid rising energy costs.
Despite skepticism from parts of Italian society regarding the militarization of the budget, the official request to the European Commission has already been submitted. It is expected that the use of SAFE resources will help the government balance the funding of planned defense sector development programs.
Photo: Economichna Pravda
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