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Romania deployed 2,284 military abroad and spent around 200 million dollars in 2005, on international security missions. Next year, the former communist country turned NATO member, plans to spend 10% more, that is 220 million dollars for its military.
The defense budget for 2006 triggered heated debates in Parliament; they started with the starling stance of the minister of defense, Teodor Atanasiu, who stated that his ministry was content with a military budget at 1.87% of the GDP, while the defense committees in the two houses of parliament were planning to push for a 2.38% of the GDP military budget, according to Romaniaâs pledge to NATO."Still, we sparliamentarianst believe that Romania should not go under the 2% of the GDP threshold, if it wants to preserve its international credibility. We should not follow into the foot-steps of other recent NATO members, which declined keeping their financial obligations on grounds that they faced economic hardships," Stanisoara told Jurnalul National. He believes that better management of military programs will make for more efficient use of the military budget next year. Stanisoara also said the way the military uses the budget should be transparent and that long and medium term defense policy programs should take into account the limited budgetary resources.
"Competent management of financial resources and wise political decisions are the only means which allow us prove our allies that we are up to the task and able to take part in complex military missions abroad," added Stanisoara. As it is, Romaniaâs military budget is thinly stretched among its NATO operations, regional programs, international fight against terrorism, and turning operational the troops for the European Union military wing.
