The European Commission is willing to be more lax about common EU funds, aimed at tackling inequality between member states, to be used for critical infrastructure linked to military use, like roads and bridges. So far, the so-called “cohesion funds” were not allowed to be used for the military, if not only for “dual-use goods” such as drones.
Only 5% of cohesion funds have been spent, with the biggest spenders, like Spain and Poland, far from reaching that amount. This in spite of the funds having already been approved and planned for much higher amounts. In the following weeks, member states will be notified of the decision, while a Commission spokesperson stated that there were no plans to grant more flexibility per se, but only to clarify the already existing mechanisms.
The countries that are expected to benefit the most are Germany, Poland, and eastern states. In fact, according to the German economy ministry, transport infrastructure is currently needing 165 billion euros on roads, rails and bridges, while Poland, who has doubled NATO’s 2% military budget target, had been pressuring the Commission to increase spending. Finally, countries such as the Baltic states have also heavily increased military spending and are the ones that feel the most threatened by a potential escalation of the war in Ukraine.
This last move by the European Union comes in midst of the election of Donald Trump, which threatens to leave Europe at the mercy of Russia. The Commission seems to be promoting a more assertive European Union without giving in on its commitment as a “normative power”, while living in a geopolitical climate characterized by decisiveness and military might. Moreover, the expected increase in investments could show profitable opportunities in infrastructure that much of Europe is currently needing.
Author: Luis Cabezas
Photo: Freepik