Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis, in a written answer on 26 June 2026, rejected calls for a general easing or suspension of EU budget deficit rules in response to rising energy costs, instead proposing a targeted broadening of the national escape clause for defence spending to cover measures reducing fossil fuel dependence. The answer, to a question by MEP Fabio De Masi (NI), signals the Commission's determination to preserve the credibility of the EU fiscal framework while offering limited, temporary flexibility.
De Masi had asked whether the Commission would ease or suspend deficit rules to allow member states to address energy price spikes, citing media reports. Dombrovskis stressed that lessons from the past energy crisis show the need to avoid untargeted support that distorts price signals. He pointed to the AccelerateEU Communication of 22 April 2026, which aims at long-term energy independence and immediate targeted relief, and the Middle East Temporary State Aid Framework of 29 April 2026, which addresses crisis consequences while strengthening energy security.
On 3 June 2026, the Commission proposed a targeted broadening of the national escape clause for defence spending to accommodate measures taken since February 2026 to reduce imported fossil fuel dependence, without raising the overall cap of 1.5% of GDP. The flexibility for such measures would be capped at 0.3% per year, with a cumulative maximum of 0.6% of GDP until 2028. Existing fiscal sustainability safeguards remain fully in place.
a numerical cap on flexibility (0.3% per year, 0.6% cumulative) and a clear deadline (2028). The policy orientation is cautious: the Commission prioritises fiscal credibility over broad stimulus, offering only a narrow, temporary escape clause tied to energy independence. This approach balances the need for crisis response with long-term debt sustainability, impacting member states with high deficits and debts most directly. The Commission's stance suggests that any further easing would require strong justification and remain tightly constrained, with no signal of a general suspension of rules.