ReArm Europe EU's Bold Defense Move скачать в хорошем качестве

ReArm Europe EU's Bold Defense Move

As defense spending increases, debates are also developing about where member states will find additional resources, apart from joint loans. There are three options. The state can consolidate public finances, i.e., cut some of its current spending (a very complicated debate in the Czech context), or increase its debt. Both options are extremely unpopular with part of the electorate. Politically sensitive cuts in public spending in areas such as healthcare, education, and pensions are particularly problematic. The third option is to increase state budget revenues, mainly by raising taxes, such as consumption taxes. However, this step would also be unlikely to meet with much public support, given that the population has faced COVID-19, high inflation, and an energy crisis over the past five years. Political consensus on how to proceed with defense financing is therefore absolutely essential. According to the European Commission, additional funds could be obtained by mobilizing private capital (following the US model) and through investment incentives from the European Investment Bank. The role of this bank in the context of the arms industry is a particularly important issue. European arms companies have faced many challenges in the last decade, from deindustrialization to high energy prices. However, the key problem remains that banks are discriminating against lending to arms companies due to the EU's ESG taxonomy, as their production often does not meet ESG standards. This is related, for example, to the ban or restriction of certain chemicals in the production of ammunition, such as lead. There is therefore currently a debate as to whether arms manufacturers should be granted an exemption under ESG so that they can resume production at the required volume and quality – especially if Europe is to increase its share of domestic production and reduce arms imports from the US (currently around 64% of European arms imports come from the US). Overall, it can be said that efforts to arm Europe and build autonomous defense capabilities are necessary in the current security and geopolitical context. At the same time, however, it should be added that dependence on US technology and military infrastructure has been ingrained in European defense strategies for decades, and any shift towards greater independence will be complex, costly, and time-consuming. Moreover, arming European armies is not just a matter of purchasing new equipment and weapon systems. It is no coincidence that it is said that if we buy new equipment, we must have someone to operate it. This opens up another difficult debate on increasing the personnel capacities of European armies. In the Czech case, it is clear that the increase in the number of professional soldiers (to 37,500) and reserve soldiers (to 10,000) is not proceeding as expected. The situation is similar in other EU member states. In this context, a debate on the reintroduction of compulsory military service is opening up in the Czech Republic, as elsewhere. As the text shows, the ReArm Europe plan can undoubtedly be considered extremely ambitious and complex. Only time will tell how this plan will be implemented.