Special funds for defence: Legislative change in the fast lane?

Shortly after the elections and during the transitional period of forming a new government, Germany is forced to clarify its own position on defence.

The likely next chancellor, Friedrich Merz, proposed a reform of the debt brake this week in order to create 500 billion euros in special funds for infrastructure and defence.

"In view of the threats to our freedom and peace on our continent, whatever it takes must now also apply to our defence," said Merz.

In addition to exploratory talks, agreements on the defence budget must now also be reached in the Bundestag.

Since the confrontation between US President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office last week, defence has become a more urgent priority than ever in Germany, Europe and worldwide.

Donald Trump temporarily put military aid for Ukraine against the Russian war of aggression on hold and announced that he would soon initiate negotiations with Russia.

The SPD and the CDU/CSU had already agreed in advance of Thursday's special EU summit in Brussels to increase defence spending. A special fund of 100 billion euros is planned for the Bundeswehr. It is intended to provide a range of new equipment, including air defence, cyber defence and various weapons, ammunition and drones.

In an interview with ARD-Hauptstadtstudio, Johann Wadephul, deputy leader of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, held out the prospect of three billion euros from Germany to support Ukraine within the EU.

For the current Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, it is important that defence remains a national responsibility and that defence spending is financed from the budgets of the member states. Before the start of the talks, he said that it was important to ensure that