Italy is not the only one in the face of the challenge of Defense expenditure to 5% of the GDP. NATO countries have decided to pursue the goal of military commitment to guarantee safety. Spain is not Spain of this same line of thought, but also most of the public opinion. The greatest doubts in this regard derive from the large request for money for the purpose. Where will they come from? Or rather, what they will be subtracted from.
There is an answer, indeed different. They are those that begin to emerge from the financials of three European countries. In short: to raise the expenses for the defense to 5% of the GDP will be cut funds In healthcare, pensions and subsidies for economically fragile people and health.
Cut health and pensions for defense
In January the cold shower: the secretary general of NATO, Mark Rutteproposes a plan of cuts to produce more weapons. The phrase is not really “cutting health and pensions for the defense”, but almost. To the EU Parliament he said:
I know that spending more for the defense means spending less for other priorities if you don’t want to increase taxes. I am a centrist politician, so I don’t like to increase taxes. But obviously you can do if results are obtained. But in general, spending more on the defense means spending less for other priorities, but it can make a big difference for our future security.
Then the aforementioned cold shower on the sectors on which one could intervene, that is:
- pensions;
- health systems;
- social security.
For Rutte it was an “investment in our safety and the safety of our children and grandchildren”. In exchange for one, according to him, a small fraction of the money of those fundamental sectors could increase the production of resources and skills defined as “crucial”, including ships, tanks, jets, ammunition, satellites and drones.
Who started cutting the expenses
Who started cutting the expenses? The first three countries to do so are: Germany, France and the United Kingdom. As reconstructed by The daily factsome countries have announced the accounts of the next financial company. From these, important cuts in healthcare, pensions or work emerge.
There Francefor example, presented a 43.8 billion euro plan in which cuts are expected to be paid by citizens. These are:
- TAGES TO REFUND OF THE DRUGS;
- freezing of social expenses;
- suppression of two holidays (Easter Monday and 8 May);
- 3,000 layoffs in the public administration.
Everything has been defined by Macron as “brave and bold”. But who will put us back? The same can be said of the German plan presented by the Finance Minister Klingbeil, who wrote that he wants to run and center the goal of military spending well in advance. To do it the Germany:
- lower pensions and raising the retirement age;
- Citizenship income cuts;
- less social housing (and reduction of the square meters granted).
Finally there is the United Kingdom And the Labor Government of Starmer, who has announced “the greatest increase in the expenditure for the defense from the end of the Cold War”. An announcement that has shaken the population and beyond. In fact, there were two cuts announced: those to international aid (which remain) and those of subsidies for people with disabilities and sick. The latter, after large internal and external revolt, was withdrawn.
Meanwhile, Italy is at Resources search for his defense plan, which will cost dearly. It is not known how or where resources will be found, but the general picture is not in favor of citizens. On the one hand, the weakest with targeted or indirect cuts will be brought to risk, on the other there is the solution of the increase in taxes. No third option has been taken into consideration, like that – for example – of Do not increase military spending.
