On Thursday 10 July, the European Commission indicated that discussions were underway with the Member States on the issue of asymmetry in treatment, under the Stability and Growth Pact, between countries subject to an excessive deficit procedure (EDP) and those without an excessive public deficit (less than 3% of national GDP) in the event of activation of the national derogation clause allowing an increase in military spending (see EUROPE B13672A24).
“We’re not looking at changing the...