BRATISLAVA, August 20, (WEBNOVINY) — Chief of Staff of Slovak Army, General Peter Vojtek said he would do his best to increase the defense budget for next year since defense expenditures below one percent of GDP would endanger the fulfillment of tasks by the armed forces. The first draft of the state budget from the workroom of the Finance Ministry squeezes defense expenditures in 2013 and 2014 bellow 0.99 percent of GDP. “We practically speak already for the third year that we are in an emergency regime. We really are under an emergency regime, we meet only selected priorities and concentrate on foreign missions,” stated General Vojtek. He however underscored that it is still only a draft while they are doing their best to have the budget that the armed forces, defense and security of the Slovak Republic deserve.
To launch the program of modernization of the army, the defense budget would need to be allotted approximately 1.2 percent of GDP. The armed forces are still saving inside their structures. Vojtek underscored that there are very serious tasks ahead of Slovakia in 2016. The Slovak Republic has committed to prepare a mechanized battalion group, he specified. “We have not yet purchased a single vehicle for this group. We need very urgently to launch the acquisition processes already next year,” said Vojtek.
In line with the first budget draft presented last week, defense expenditures might drop below 1 percent of GDP for the first time ever. Next year EUR 746.3 million would be earmarked for defense while in 2014 the military should get the same portion of GDP but owing to the economic growth the allocation for the military would reach EUR 791.5 million. Only in 2015 defense spending would climb to 1 percent of GDP or EUR 839.7 million. This year’s defense spending is estimated to achieve 1.14 percent of GDP amounting to EUR 816.5 million.
SITA