Greece welcomes European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s proposal to activate the escape clause for defence investments, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Friday.
In a post on X, Mitsotakis said “Greece has long advocated to exempt defence investments from fiscal constraints. We welcome the proposal by President von der Leyen to activate the escape clause, enabling EU member states to strengthen their defence capabilities. A crucial step for our collective security.”
Greece has long advocated to exempt defence investments from fiscal constraints. We welcome the proposal by President @vonderleyen to activate the escape clause, enabling EU member states to strengthen their defence capabilities. A crucial step for our collective security.
— Prime Minister GR (@PrimeministerGR) February 14, 2025
In an earlier post also on X, the European Commission president had said speaking at the Munchen Security Conference, “We need a surge in EU defence spending. Europe must bring more to the table. I will propose to activate the escape clause for defence investments. It will allow member states to substantially increase their defence expenditure, in a controlled and conditional way.”
We need a surge in 🇪🇺 defence spending.
Europe must bring more to the table.
I will propose to activate the escape clause for defence investments.
It will allow Member States to substantially increase their defence expenditure, in a controlled and conditional way.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) February 14, 2025
The EU Commission President did not specify whether more weapons should be purchase from the U.S.A. but I guess she spoke before “the new sheriff in town” as U.S. vice J D Vance described himself left Europeans speechless.
BREAKING: Europeans are furious at JD Vance, and rightfully so after his embarrassing speech in Munich.
Europe is tired of Trump and Vance thinking they control them and know what’s best for them.
Sorry Europe! Most Americans don’t agree with this rhetoric. pic.twitter.com/zBP66w9ZTK
— Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) February 14, 2025
PS I wish EU leaders incl the Greek PM would show equal interest and address the needs of the people than just those of the industry.
J.D.Vance was spot on, the elite do not listen to the ordinary people, they are only interested in furthering their own agenda, be it financially or ideological. They think they know better and what is best for the populace, they don’t have to live check by towel with immigrants from different cultures and religions who are overwhelmingly indigenous cultures and populations.
I am sorry to tell you, Mr Saunders, that you appear to have no understanding of what is going on. The USA has been hijacked by billionaires allied with the Far Right, and they are doing their utmost to destroy US democracy and the US Constitution. As part of that strategy, they are supporting the Far Right parties in Europe, and attacking the democratically elected governments and mainsteam political parties.
While it is true that European governments are failing miserably, making poor choices, and presiding over economic and social decline, there is no reason for a hypocritical and corrupt novice of a politician like Vance to open his big mouth. What it shows is only that the USA is no longer a trustworthy ally of European countries, UK, Canada and Australasia. NATO is effectively dead, and the EU plus the UK (and arguably Canada and Australasia) need to engage in massive military expenditure and form a new international military alliance. The new military alliance needs to protect its members from three great powers — China, Russia and the USA.
This was obvious some time ago, but our political class is none too bright. I agree totally that they have ignored the needs of common people, and obsessed with ideology and self-interest of the political parties and the political class. Greece was always like this — look at the history of ND and Pasok — but the syndrome can be found in all of the developed world. The latter comment includes the USA, which is going to damage the working people there very badly indeed.