PARIS (Reuters) – France must spend more on defence and faster, French Finance Minister Eric Lombard said on Tuesday, amid calls for European countries to step up more on defence as Washington threatens to pull back.
“We must go faster and harder,” Lombard told Franceinfo.
Lombard’s remarks come as France has been under pressure to reduce its deficit.
Lombard said France would need to make efforts elsewhere in order to properly finance increases in defence spending, though the country’s welfare system would largely remain in place.
“We must maintain the French social protection system. That’s absolutely essential. The response will be without a doubt to find the way to make the most effort,” Lombard said.
On Tuesday, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said the EU will propose giving member states more fiscal space for defence investments.
(Reporting by Makini Brice; Editing by Charlotte Van Campenhout)
