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The maneuver which received the definitive green light from the Chamber a few hours ago includes a series of measures regarding defense and national security. A politically hot area, in which there has been and is no shortage of opportunities for friction in the majority over the opportunity to allocate considerable resources to this sector.
“On spending on weapons, we have not removed a euro in this budget law from social spending to allocate it to spending on weapons”, the Minister of Economy wanted to underline Giancarlo Giorgetti. “The debate on defense spending – he then added – will take place from next spring when and if we emerge from the infringement procedure”. The head of the Mef clarified that Italy must first “go below 3%: it is by no means a given that this will happen, but it is naturally my hope”. At that point, added Giorgetti, “we will evaluate whether to ask for an exemption for the increase in defense spending so as not to in any way affect the expenditure allocated to health, school and education”. This strategy does not exclude the fact that there is no shortage of solutions in this budget law.
Strategic areas for the development of defense industrial capabilities
In fact, measures are envisaged for the strengthening of defense industrial capabilities by providing that the Minister of Defence, in agreement with the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, identifies, with his own decree and in compliance with the resources provided for by current legislation, the activities, areas, works and infrastructural projects intended for the creation, expansion, reconversion, management and development of defense industrial capabilities, recognized as strategic for national defence.
Destruction of chemical weapons
The maneuver aims to guarantee the Ministry of Defense the continuation of the demilitarization and destruction of chemical weapons activities and the maintenance of the related facilities, in compliance with international obligations. In particular, expenditure is authorized in favor of the Ministry of Defense equal to 850,000 euros for 2026 and equal to 900,000 euros for each of the years from 2027 to 2030.
Technical table to support civilian employees of US bases in the event of a shutdown
The maneuver involves the establishment of a technical table, at the Ministry of Economy and Finance, to adopt the necessary measures to protect Italian civilian employees of US military bases in Italy, in the event of an administrative blockade by the US Government (the so-called shutdown).
