Italian coalition clashes over proposed €14.9 billion EU defense fund
Italy's ruling coalition faces friction over a €14.9 billion EU defense proposal as Milan courts expose Russian spy recruitment and domestic fuel subsidies spark criticism.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced plans to request €14.9 billion from the European Union's Safe defense purchasing fund. The proposal triggered immediate friction within the ruling coalition, with representatives from Lega and Brothers of Italy insisting that defense allocations require prior parliamentary approval.
Concurrently, judicial documents from a Milan court revealed that Russian intelligence agencies are recruiting ordinary Italian citizens using financial incentives to gather sensitive NATO and military data.
Domestically, the government faces mounting scrutiny over a fuel relief decree designed to mitigate energy market disruptions. The measure grants diesel drivers a subsidy of only 17 cents per liter, leaving them with substantially less assistance than gasoline vehicle owners.
Sources: Corriere della Sera, Il Messaggero, La Stampa.
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