Poland to up defence expenditure
PR dla Zagranicy
John Beauchamp
18.02.2015 10:33
From 2016 Poland is to increase defence spending to at least 2 percent of GDP, with military investments based on the Polish defence industry, Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz announced, Tuesday.
Polish soldiers during NATO's Steadfast Jazz exercises in Drawsko Pomorskie. Photo: Flickr/US Army
The move was expected as Poland has been gunning for greater expenditure on the country’s military, with President Bronisław Komorowski and former PM Donald Tusk – who now heads the European Council – earlier mooting the possibility.
The 2-percent-of-GDP level for defence spending is in line with NATO recommendations, although not legally binding. This year, budget expenditure on the armed forces is to reach some 1.95 percent of GDP.
Kopacz’s decision still remains to be rubberstamped by the parliament and president.
A major investment drive is expected for Poland’s defence industry, Kopacz underlined, saying that the move will also create employment opportunities.
Furthermore, a recent overhaul of the Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa – PGZ (Polish Armaments Group) based in Radom is to streamline military hardware production, the prime minister said.
The money “will aid the implementation of modern technologies and innovation which must be present in our defence industry,” Kopacz added.
Defence Minister Tomasz Siemoniak said that “the global situation encouraged us [to increase spending]”, emphasising that in 2014 over 99 percent of the PLN 8.3 billion budget for the army’s modernisaton had been spent.
In 2016, the defence budget will increase by PLN 800 million, Siemoniak estimated. (jb)
Source: IAR/PAP