EU's defense plan to rearm Europe faces setbacks in Italy: policy expert

The European Union (EU)'s plan to increase defense spending across the bloc has encountered challenges in Italy, where there are significant concerns regarding the sustainability of public debt, said an Italian professor of European policy. At a special EU summit in Brussels in early March, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed the "ReArm Europe" plan to mobilize 800 billion euros to create "a secure and resilient Europe."

However, the proposal to provide a 150-billion-euro loan to member states for defense investments was met with opposition from countries like France, Italy, and Spain.

Currently, Italy's public debt is about three trillion euros, which is over 135 percent of its GDP.

As a result, Italian scholars have warned that the "ReArm Europe" plan could raise concerns about the sustainability of Italy's public debt.

"The Italian government supports strengthening European defense, but it does not fully agree with the approach proposed by the 'ReArm Europe' plan, which focuses on enhancing the national defense of EU member states and allowing them to take out loans, rather than strengthening European defense as a whole," said Valentina Meliciani, director of the Luiss Institute for European Analysis and Policy at Luiss Guido Carli University.

"Clearly, Italy has plans to repay its public debt in the coming years. Therefore, if the budget needs to be adjusted to increase loans for defense spending, there may be concerns about the sustainability of Italy's public debt. This worry already exists within the Italian government, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressing significant worries about debt sustainability. Other ruling parties, such as the Lega Nord, have even greater doubts about the European defense plan," she said.

According to a statement published by the European Commission, the "ReArm Europe" plan is a comprehensive set of proposals aimed at unlocking financial resources to support national defense investments both in the short term and over the next decade.

The initiative consists of five key measures designed to strengthen Europe's defense capabilities and bolster military support for Ukraine.

EU's defense plan to rearm Europe faces setbacks in Italy: policy expert

EU's defense plan to rearm Europe faces setbacks in Italy: policy expert

EU's defense plan to rearm Europe faces setbacks in Italy: policy expert

China has pledged additional emergency humanitarian aid to Myanmar following the devastating earthquake, aimed at supporting ongoing relief efforts with a focus on urgent needs such as medical supplies and reconstruction, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian announced on Thursday.

During a press briefing in Beijing, Lin outlined the details of the aid and summarized China's immediate involvement in the search and rescue operations following the March 28 earthquake.

"Since the outbreak of the earthquake, Chinese rescue forces have rallied around and saved lives against time. China was the first country that announced emergency assistance to Myanmar, sent rescue forces to the country, and set up settlement centers in the affected areas. The Chinese rescue team found the first trapped survivor. More than 30 rescue teams of over 600 members rushed to Myanmar for rescue work and we offered several batches of supplies, which demonstrates China's speed, contribution and kindness. This is warmly welcomed and appreciated by the people in Myanmar," said Lin.

Lin also emphasized the significance of the "pauk-phaw" friendship -- a Myanmar term for siblings - in the context of China's ongoing support.

"Myanmar's disaster response work has moved to epidemic prevention and control, as well as recovery and reconstruction. As a friendly neighbor and 'pauk-phaw' brother, China has decided to send another batch of emergency humanitarian supplies, which include the most needed refined oil, prefabricated houses, operating rooms, medicines, and vaccines. China will also dispatch medical and epidemic prevention experts for treatment and disinfection, as well as experts to examine, assess, reinforce, and repair affected buildings and cultural relics. A merciless disaster brings the best out of humanity. China will continue to promote the China-Myanmar 'pauk-phaw' friendship and, upholding the spirit of the China-Myanmar community with a shared future, help the people in Myanmar overcome difficulties and rebuild their homes," Lin added.

The earthquake, which struck Mandalay on March 28, has claimed 3,649 lives, injured 5,018 people, and left 145 missing, according to the Information Team of Myanmar's State Administration Council on Wednesday.

China to provide additional emergency aid to Myanmar following earthquake: spokesman