From funds to destroy chemical weapons to US base employees, here are the measures of the defence manoeuvre
Economy Minister Giorgetti: 'We have not taken one euro out of social spending in this budget law to spend on arms'
by Andrea Carli
Key points
- Strategic Areas for Defence Industrial Capability Development
- Chemical Weapons Destruction
- Technical table to support civil employees of US bases in case of shutdown
- Multi-year investment programmes for national defence needs
- Requirements for Armed Forces, Police and Fire Brigades
- Port Authorities
- Resources for Carabinieri to supervise foreign locations
- Paralympic athletes stabilisation
- Military Health Service Fund
- Research and development of emerging technologies applied to national defence
- Military escort replacement allowance
The manoeuvre that just a few hours ago received the final green light from the Chamber of Deputies embodies a series of measures on defence and national security. A politically hot area, on which there was and is no shortage of friction in the majority on the appropriateness of allocating considerable resources to this sector.
"On arms spending, we have not taken one euro out of social spending in this budget law to allocate it to arms spending," Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti was keen to emphasise. 'The debate on defence spending,' he added, 'will take place next spring when and if we come out of the infringement procedure. The head of the Mef clarified that first Italy must 'go below 3%: it is by no means a given that this will happen, but it is of course my hope'. At that point, Giorgetti added, 'we will assess whether to ask for a derogation for the increase in defence spending so as not to touch in any way the spending for health, schooling, education. This strategy does not exclude the fact that there is no shortage of solutions in this budget law.
Strategic Areas for Defence Industrial Capability Development
In fact, measures are envisaged for the strengthening of defence industrial capacities by providing that the Minister of Defence, in agreement with the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, shall identify, by his own decree and in compliance with the resources provided for by the regulations in force, the activities, areas, works and infrastructure projects intended for the construction, expansion, reconversion, management and development of defence industrial capacities, recognised as strategic for national defence.
Destruction of chemical weapons
The manoeuvre aims to guarantee the Ministry of Defence the continuation of demilitarisation and destruction activities of chemical weapons and the maintenance of related facilities, in accordance with international obligations. In particular, an expenditure of €850,000 for the Ministry of Defence is authorised for 2026 and €900,000 for each of the years 2027 to 2030.
Technical table to support civil employees of US bases in case of shutdown
The manoeuvre provides for the establishment of a technical table at the Ministry of Economy and Finance to take the necessary measures to protect Italian civilian employees of US military bases in Italy, in the event of an administrative blockade by the US government (the so-called shutdown).
