“At this point in time, we have not received any request from any Member State” to activate the national escape clause in the Stability and Growth Pact in order to derogate from European fiscal rules to deal with soaring energy prices, said Balazs Ujvari, spokesman for the European Commission, on Tuesday 7 April.
According to the Italian Finance Minister, Giancarlo Giorgetti, the question could be raised if the war in the Middle East continues.
In 2025, sixteen countries activated the national escape clause to increase their military spending, with Austria joining them at the beginning of 2026 (see EUROPE 13810/26).
In addition, Mr Ujvari reiterated the Commission’s analysis that, at this stage, the macroeconomic impact of the war in the Middle East is not such as to cause a serious economic downturn at EU or euro area level or, therefore, to activate the general escape clause of the Stability Pact (see EUROPE 13838/1).
On Wednesday 3 June, the Commission will present its assessment of the budgetary situation in the EU countries and its socio-economic policy country-specific recommendations for 2027. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)