Romania’s Army Close To “Default” Due To Insufficient Money – Defense Minister

Romanian Defense Minister Gabriel Oprea said Monday the Romanian Army is close to “impairment”, as the budget allotted to the ministry for 2010 is insufficient, adding that, nevertheless, efforts are made to accomplish internal missions and carry out military operations abroad.

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Oprea said, during a visit to Cluj-Napoca, northwestern Romania, the budget allotted to the Army in 2010 accounts for 1.31% of the gross domestic product, compared to 2.30% of the GDP when Romania joined NATO.

The minister said that about 80% of the current budget is used to pay military staff salaries and pensions, adding only 20% are available to set out internal missions and carry out military operations abroad.

Oprea said that, given the facts, the Romanian Army is close to "default", adding that it struggles to accomplish its missions.

The minister also said there is little chance the ministry's budget will be allotted extra funds at a future budget revision.

"In the current context, we cannot hope for a budget increase, but it is of utmost necessity the ministry's budget should at least stay as it is," Oprea said.

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