Euractiv

European Parliament Sues Council Over E150 Billion Defence Loan Scheme

Europarl

Legal bases in Article 122 TFEU: Tackling emergencies through executive acts

European Parliament MINUTES Meeting of 24 June 2025, 09.30-12.30 and 14.30-18.30 BRUSSELS

European Commission

SAFE

Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION establishing the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) through the reinforcement of European defence industry Instrument

Sidelining Meps Over E150 Billion Defence Plan Is Justified Von Der Leyen Says

Claudiu_Tarziu

Socialists and Democrats

European Parliament votes to take legal action after being excluded from decision-making process of EU defence funding

Europa

European Council

SAFE: Council adopts €150 billion boost for joint procurement on European security and defence

Metaculus

Will any country besides the United Kingdom leave the European Union, before 2030?

Council on Foreign Relations

Hudson’s Bay will liquidate last 6 remaining stores, court filing says

Safe Council Adopts 150 Billion Boost For Joint Procurement On European Security And Defence

Donald Trump

Viktor Mihály Orbán

Nigel Farage

Party for Freedom (PVV)

Alice Weidel

Jordan Bardella

Maciej Duszczyk

Marshall Auerback

Paul Taylor

Cesáreo Rodríguez-Aguilera de Prat

Markus Gastinger

Sara B. Hobolt

Hans Vollaard

Jimmie Åkesson

Bruno La Maire

Jon Henley

Andrew Glencross

Marine Le Pen

"[T]he EU will have more, not fewer, members by the mid-2030s — possibly as many as 36 compared to today's 27."

"In the (very) long term we will likely see the EU grow from its current 27 states to as many as 35."

"There is no majority in any other member state in government, parliament or public opinion for a full exit from the EU."

There's "no room for complacency over the future prospects of disintegration."

"If we do not manage migration... In some time, the EU may fall apart."

“I believe others will leave. I do think keeping it together is not gonna be as easy as a lot of people think.”

Brexit "will trigger a domino effect."

Brexit "will set off the domino effect that will bring down all of Europe."

Will Any Other Country Follow the UK in Leaving the EU?

The Security Action for Europe program was proposed by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in March 2025 to stimulate defense spending and boost Europe's defense industry through EU borrowing.</span

The Security Action for Europe program was proposed by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in March 2025 to stimulate defense spending and boost Europe's defense industry through EU borrowing.

EU ministers gave final approval to SAFE in May 2025 without consulting the European Parliament, using Article 122 TFEU which enables the Council to adopt measures without involving Parliament.</span

EU ministers gave final approval to SAFE in May 2025 without consulting the European Parliament, using Article 122 TFEU which enables the Council to adopt measures without involving Parliament.

Eighteen EU countries have formally expressed interest in taking out SAFE loans for bids amounting to at least €127 billion, with Member States having six months to submit initial national plans.</span

Eighteen EU countries have formally expressed interest in taking out SAFE loans for bids amounting to at least €127 billion, with Member States having six months to submit initial national plans.

The European Parliament's Committee on Legal Affairs unanimously decided on April 23, 2025 that Article 122 TFEU is not the appropriate legal basis for the proposed SAFE regulation.</span

Table

The European Parliament's Committee on Legal Affairs unanimously decided on April 23, 2025 that Article 122 TFEU is not the appropriate legal basis for the proposed SAFE regulation.

Parliament President Roberta Metsola warned von der Leyen in May that the Commission could face legal action, while von der Leyen defended using the emergency clause as fully justified for this urgent challenge.</span

Parliament President Roberta Metsola warned von der Leyen in May that the Commission could face legal action, while von der Leyen defended using the emergency clause as fully justified for this urgent challenge.

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The European Parliament lodged a request with the Court of Justice on August 20 for the annulment of the SAFE regulation, a €150 billion defense loan program proposed by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in March 2025.</span

The European Parliament lodged a request with the Court of Justice on August 20 for the annulment of the SAFE regulation, a €150 billion defense loan program proposed by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in March 2025.

The European Commission activated Article 122 TFEU, an emergency procedure normally reserved for crises like the Covid-19 pandemic, to bypass parliamentary approval and enable the Council to adopt the SAFE regulation in May 2025.</span

The European Commission activated Article 122 TFEU, an emergency procedure normally reserved for crises like the Covid-19 pandemic, to bypass parliamentary approval and enable the Council to adopt the SAFE regulation in May 2025.

Eighteen EU countries have formally expressed interest in taking out SAFE loans for defense procurement bids amounting to at least €127 billion, with the program designed to boost Europe's defense industry and incentivize rearmament.</span

Eighteen EU countries have formally expressed interest in taking out SAFE loans for defense procurement bids amounting to at least €127 billion, with the program designed to boost Europe's defense industry and incentivize rearmament.

The Parliament's Committee on Legal Affairs unanimously decided on April 23, 2025, that Article 122 TFEU is not the appropriate legal basis for the proposed regulation, citing the Commission's failure to provide proper justification.</span

The Parliament's Committee on Legal Affairs unanimously decided on April 23, 2025, that Article 122 TFEU is not the appropriate legal basis for the proposed regulation, citing the Commission's failure to provide proper justification.

Parliament President Roberta Metsola warned Commission President von der Leyen in May that the Commission could face legal action, while von der Leyen defended the emergency clause as fully justified for this urgent challenge.</span

Parliament President Roberta Metsola warned Commission President von der Leyen in May that the Commission could face legal action, while von der Leyen defended the emergency clause as fully justified for this urgent challenge.

The SAFE instrument will provide competitively priced loans to EU Member States through EU borrowing on capital markets, with funds raised through single branded EU-Bonds and integrated into the Commission's unified funding approach.</span

The SAFE instrument will provide competitively priced loans to EU Member States through EU borrowing on capital markets, with funds raised through single branded EU-Bonds and integrated into the Commission's unified funding approach.

The Commission's use of emergency powers was absolutely necessary given the deteriorating security situation since early 2025. Europe faces unprecedented geopolitical challenges that demand swift action to strengthen defense capabilities.

The Commission's use of emergency powers was absolutely necessary given the deteriorating security situation since early 2025. Europe faces unprecedented geopolitical challenges that demand swift action to strengthen defense capabilities.

Parliament's democratic role cannot be sidestepped simply for speed when €150 billion is at stake. The emergency clause was misused since proper legislative procedures exist for urgent matters.

Parliament's democratic role cannot be sidestepped simply for speed when €150 billion is at stake. The emergency clause was misused since proper legislative procedures exist for urgent matters.

EU Parliament Sues Council Over €150B Defense Loan Program

Crime & justice

Europe

Governance

Politics

This blatant bypass of democratic oversight sets a dangerous precedent that undermines the very foundations of EU governance. The Parliament has legitimate legislative functions that cannot be swept aside whenever the Commission finds normal procedures inconvenient. Emergency powers should not become a tool to avoid democratic scrutiny.

This blatant bypass of democratic oversight sets a dangerous precedent that undermines the very foundations of EU governance. The Parliament has legitimate legislative functions that cannot be swept aside whenever the Commission finds normal procedures inconvenient. Emergency powers should not become a tool to avoid democratic scrutiny.

EU Parliament Sues Council Over €150B Defense Loan Program

EU Parliament Sues Council Over €150B Defense Loan Program

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EU Parliament Sues Council Over €150B Defense Loan Program

EU Parliament Sues Council Over €150B Defense Loan Program

The Spin

The Controversies

Taylor

Prat

Vollaard

Glencross

Duszczyk

Trump

Farage

Pen

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