Sources told "Reuters" today, Monday, that the German government intends to ease spending rules regarding the 100 billion euros (109 billion dollars) from a special fund originally created to finance major military purchases. The sources added that Berlin is seeking to amend legislation to allow the funds to also cover maintenance costs, viewed as operational expenses, and infrastructure as long as it is related to military purchases, as confirmed by a report from the newspaper (F.A.Z).
Such a change could represent a setback for efforts to return the German military to the required level following decades of neglect, during which spending focused on operational costs rather than major modernization projects. This fund was established in the aftermath of the Russian invasion of Ukraine to finance major defense projects such as the purchase of fighter jets. A spokeswoman for the Defense Ministry did not clarify whether the government intends to amend the rules. The German cabinet approved the first draft of the 2024 budget at the beginning of July. The country with the largest economy in Europe is looking to rein in spending that has surged due to addressing the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine.
