Romania Defense Min Denounces Low Budget Despite Strong NATO Commitments

Romanian defense minister Mihai Stanisoara said Tuesday that, despite Romania’s NATO membership commitments, which stipulate 2% of GDP for the sector, the sum was way below this level over the past few years and, although set at 1.81% of GDP in 2008, the defense sector budget saw only 1.5% of GDP.

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"From the initially approved budget, which covered 85.3% of necessary funds, the ministry had to pay its debts for 2007 and thus, the remaining sums came to cover only 81% of necessary funds," Stanisoara said at the ministry’s 2008 activity report meeting.

According to Stanisoara, last year’s successive budget revisions significantly lowered the ministry budget, which seriously affected ongoing technological upgrade programs.

"Successive budget revisions in 2008 eventually lowered the defense sector budget by nearly 800 million lei (EUR1=RON4.29240), and this situation seriously affected ongoing technological upgrade programs, as follows: land forces - 40%, air forces - 50% and naval forces - 30%," the minister said.

Moreover, he said the country’s defense sector saw the lowest job satisfaction over the past four years.

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