site.btaCaretaker Defence Minister Zapryanov Calls for Military Spending Increase Up to 2.5% of GDP
"We want an increase in military spending, if possible, up to 2.5% of GDP," caretaker Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov told journalists here Friday. He participated in the celebration of the Rakovski National Defence College's patron day.
"In NATO, 2% will be considered the minimum defence spending. We need to make this additional spending on people," the Minister said. "We are taking measures and we expect our social package to be supported. We want to update the pay of servicepersons," he noted, adding that a paradox is emerging, when at some point there will be modern equipment but no personnel.
The issue of conscription is not on the agenda as a political decision yet, but only as a discussion, Zapryanov said.
Understaffing of the armed forces cannot be solved before the military profession is made more attractive and competittive on the labour market, he said. Zapryanov also noted a few days ago that the military profession's attractiveness has dropped in the last ten years.
/MY/
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