The governing parties VVD and CDA will support the bill of a private member of the SGP. ChristenUnie is positive about this, but would also like more money for development cooperation.
Last spring, the government already increased the defense budget by almost 15 billion euros. This means that the NATO standard will be met in 2024 and 2025. The law of the SGP must ensure that the standard is guaranteed for the further future as well.
–
–
SGP MP Chris Stoffer: “Our security is too important to bargain. The military must be ready to provide a strong response to current and future threats.”
“This is not the case now. The budget has been too small for too long. The tide has changed after the war in Ukraine: the urgency is now fully felt. Now it is important to maintain it”.
‘Too often austere’
This is also the opinion of the governing parties VVD and CDA. According to MP VVD Valstar, defense cuts were too easy and too often in peacetime in the past.
“As a result, we had to call on emaciated armed forces in wartime. By legally anchoring the budget, we protect the military from political whims and allow our soldiers to keep the Netherlands safe.”
–
–
His colleague Boswijk (CDA): “Our armed forces not only need more money, less bureaucracy and better coordination in Europe, but above all a stable policy. We can do this by setting the NATO standard by law.”
It is not yet clear whether the plan will actually achieve a majority. The PVV plays a key role in this, but that party refused to respond. JA21 supports this law, as does the Van Haga group.
–
–
/data/photo/2022/09/27/63323648a1d6e.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)