Romania’s Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu on Tuesday welcomed the proposals released by the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, on the exemption of defence spending from the excessive deficit procedure, saying that Romania has constantly advocated for such a solution.

„Europe must be prepared to uphold its security and defence, as reflected in today’s Von der Leyen’s proposal to Rearm Europe. Particularly welcome proposals to exempt the defence spending from the excessive deficit procedure, a solution for which Romania pleaded since the beginning of Russian aggression against Ukraine. Putting forward different instruments allowing for the increase of defence investments will contribute to consolidating capabilities in EUMS and to protect Europe as a whole,” Ciolacu wrote in a social media post.

Von der Leyen on Tuesday proposed a new fund that could mobilise almost EUR 800 billion for defence investments in the European Union, including military aid to Ukraine.

According to the dpa news agency, the new fund is part of a proposal presented to member states ahead of a special March 6 summit of EU leaders in Brussels.

In her plan to rearm the EU, the EC president also proposed to give member states more leeway in complying with the EU’s usually strict rules on defence debt and deficit spending, as well as the possibility of reallocating regional development funds available for military investment.

AGERPRES