If increased defense expenditures are discussed at the level of the Member States of the European Union (EU), they could not have dual use, the question of the referendum is at the point. In the STVR, 5 minutes 12 discussion session, Erik Kaliňák (Smer-SD) admitted to the Smer-SD party. He responded to the words stated in this context on Friday (4 April) Direction leader and Prime Minister Robert Fico.
“If there is a situation that there would be no way to use the increased defense spending dual, for example, for infrastructure, bridge renewal, hospital construction, and Slovakia should give higher expenses only to weapons and ammunition, In this topic, we can imagine organizing a referendum in order to have a clear mandate from citizens that such an increase in expenditure is out of the question,“Kaliňák said.
At the same time, he refused to consider that such a refusal could, for example, jeopardize the membership of the Slovak Republic in NATO. “Currently, NATO Member States are to spend two percent of their GDP for defense, but some countries do not comply with this,“He pointed out.
EP deputy Branislav Ondruš (Voice-SD) considers the plan of the President of the European Commission (EC) Ursula von Der Leyen’s “Reboy of Europe”, which should allow to mobilize a total of up to 800 billion euros, for mad. He pointed out that Europe does not have the funds for such investments, as well as the fact that the way to the higher defenses of Europe is not to increase weapon expenditure.
“I agree with the need to strengthen Europe’s security, but we have to do it in a different way, armaments have never brought more safety,” he pointed out. According to Ondruš, this would mean a reduction in social expenditure, Eurofunds and investments in the regions.
MEP Ľudovít ódor (PS) is clearly for increasing Europe’s defense spending. “If we cannot rely on the US in this respect, Europe must be able to protect its citizens,“He stressed. But he thinks it is premature to talk about a specific percentage increase.
