How to handle a economic crisis, by a layman

I'm not a scholar in economics but it is

1. Common sense that any budget must have balance in the books.

2. It's also common sense that if a country is in recession, it's time for investments in infrastructure and social enterprises to limit the effects of the recession.

3. It's common sense that needed austerity measures must be taken in times of growth.

Talk about screwing things up.

On the other hand, like I pointed out, I'm not a economist.

European defense policy

The European Union is made up out of 28 independent, expensive and inefficient armed forces.
How can politicians justify this in these times of austerity? How can Europeans accept this negligence?