FinMin: Debate on Increasing Bulgaria's Military Spending Is Forthcoming

Bulgarian Finance Minister Vladislav Goranov said in parliament on Friday that a debate on increasing the country's military spending is forthcoming.

However Goranov expressed doubt whether Bulgaria will be able to fulfill the commitment to its NATO allies according to which the country has to increase its military spending to 2 % of its GDP.

The finance minister added that it will be nearly impossible to provide BGN 1 B on the acquisition of new fighter jets at the same time as the country was close to signing an agreement on the repair of the existing MiG-29 jets with Poland.

As regards the overall government budget for 2016, he revealed that consultations between the parties from the ruling majority were already taking place, daily Dnevnik informs.

Until now meetings have been held with representatives from the junior coalition partner - the Reformist Bloc (RB) and one of the parties supporting the government – the Patriotic Front (PF).

Goranov refused to reveal further details as no concrete decisions have been made yet, rather there were only proposals.