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Seismic change in Europe/ Germany makes historic decision that will reformat European defense

2025-03-19 17:44:10Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Seismic change in Europe/ Germany makes historic decision that will reformat
German soldier

A strong wind of change is blowing in Europe. German lawmakers voted on Tuesday to allow increased spending on defense and infrastructure. As the BBC reports, this is a seismic shift that could reshape European defense.

After long debates and fierce controversy, the Bundestag approved by two-thirds of the vote the constitutional amendment that will fundamentally change the way German defense is financed.

The law will exempt defense and security spending from Germany's strict debt rules, creating a 500 billion euro infrastructure fund.

This vote is a historic move for Germany and could have major significance for Europe as the war in Ukraine continues, while US President Donald Trump remains unclear about commitment to NATO and the defense of Europe.

However, it is now up to the representatives of the state governments in the Federal Council, known as the Bundesrat, to approve the move. There, too, a two-thirds majority is needed. The vote will take place on Friday.

Friedrich Merz, the main architect of this plan and who is expected to be confirmed soon as the new German chancellor, told the Bundestag that the country has felt a false sense of security over the past decade.

"The decision we take today is the first major step towards a new European defense community," he said, adding that it also includes countries that are not members of the European Union.

Merz presented the decision as a necessary step for national and European security, conditioned by Putin's war on Ukraine. "It is also a war against our country that is happening every day, with attacks on our data networks, with the destruction of supply lines, with arson, with contract killings on the territory of our country, with spying on barracks and with disinformation campaigns that deceive our society," Merz warned.

Germany has been cautious about defense spending, not only for historical reasons dating back to 1945, but also because of the global crisis in 2009.

But despite fears that the vote would be close, lawmakers ultimately voted in favor of the changes, 513 to 207, far more than the two-thirds majority required.

Under the new law, any defense spending that requires more than 1% of Germany's GDP will no longer be subject to a borrowing limit. Until now, the debt limit was set at 0.35% of GDP.

The decision could also transform the country's armed forces. This vote was not just about defense, but also about freeing up 500 billion euros for German infrastructure, to fix infrastructure like bridges and roads, but also to pay for climate change measures, something the Green Party had been pushing for.

Merz, whose party won Germany's general election last month, proposed the measures shortly after winning. In an interview, he cited fears that the United States could pull back from protecting Europe and Trump's talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying the situation could worsen in the coming weeks.

"This is why we need to act quickly," Merz said.

As the BBC writes, Merz chose to push the change measures through the old parliament, knowing that he has an arithmetic advantage since the new session begins on March 25 and the far-right AfD and the left-wing Linke oppose his plan.

Merz has not yet agreed on a coalition to govern Germany and has declared his ambition to have the government ready by Easter. However, coalition negotiations in Germany could take months.


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