Representatives of the 16 federal states supported the plan of the future head of government, Friedrich Merz, which calls for energizing military rearmament and the modernization of facilities, while eliminating the current restrictions on borrowing, endorsed by the Constitution.
“We must do everything possible to ensure that Germany once again has one of the most powerful armed forces in Europe and can protect itself,” said Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder in the Bundesrat debate.
There were no dissenting votes, only abstentions from the eastern federal states of Brandenburg, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia, and the western region of Rhineland-Palatinate.
The changes to the rules give federal states greater possibilities to take on debt, free the national government from any limits on defense spending exceeding one percent of gross domestic product, and allow for the creation of a fund for infrastructure and climate protection.
The German statements are in line with what European Union (EU) leaders announced yesterday in Brussels, who called for accelerating the mobilization of up to €800 billion additional funds to boost EU rearmament, which includes the provision of €150 billion in loans for military projects and joint arms purchases. The initiative originated with the European Commission, under the concept of military readiness for the bloc; an issue welcomed by most governments in the region, although conflicting views persist regarding the possible creation of a common debt (through Eurobonds) to support the spiral of war. However, the heads of state and government of the Twenty-Seven confirmed the day before that the European Council “urges the acceleration of work in all areas to decisively increase Europe’s defense preparedness in the next five years,” according to the conclusions approved in Brussels, Belgium.
Previously, the EU Executive made clear its full support for the relaxation of budgetary rules, with a view to allowing member states to increase military spending without fear of opening cases for excessive deficits.
ef/mem/mjm