One public entity that is definitely not having its recurrent expenditure cut by the Finance Minister’s cuts in recurrent expenditure is the Armed Forces of Malta, which had its recurrent expenditure increased by 16.95% in Budget 2026 from €86.02 million to €100.6 million. The AFM was also provided with up to €9.5 million in capital expenditure which is the same figure as this year.
The Labour government has been progressively increasing public expenditure on the Armed Forces of Malta including to contribute to its modernisation programmes. Despite the government’s increases in defence expenditure, its MEPs have opposed the ReArm Europe programme on partisan grounds. The Maltese government could obtain many fiscal benefits if it joins the ReArm Europe programme and it also makes sense to be part of the programem at a time when he government is increasing defence expenditure.
The government is sacrificing Malta’s participation in the ReArm Europe programme to supposedly, score cheap political points against the Opposition, in what is clearly an infantile act of spite.
Website Editor
Historian and Publisher
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