Ljubljana – The Prime Minister of Slovenia, Robert Golob, announced that the Slovenian government plans to allocate two percent of the country’s GDP for defense and security policy this year. This figure is set to gradually rise to three percent of GDP by 2030. The government is prepared to deviate from EU fiscal rules if necessary to accommodate these expenditures.
Golob emphasized that defense encompasses more than just military spending. It includes a range of investments in multifunctional facilities, known as dual-use, which cover areas such as infrastructure, the development of new hospital capacities, and cybersecurity.
The Prime Minister stated that the government aims to execute the defense plan as efficiently as possible, with no anticipated cuts to this year’s budget or to established social rights in the future. Any additional costs that arise will be financed through increased borrowing, he explained.
He also noted that the government submitted a request to Brussels last week to activate the so-called escape clause, which would allow for borrowing in support of these initiatives if needed.
According to Finance Minister Klemen Boštjančič, invoking the national escape clause would enable Slovenia to boost defense spending over the next four years beyond the commitments outlined in the medium-term fiscal-structural plan, in accordance with European public finance rules.
Boštjančič clarified that this increase in defense funds does not equate to additional financial resources for defense but rather involves reclassifying existing funding for specific infrastructure and other defense-related purposes as defense expenditures.
In 2024, Slovenia allocated approximately 1.35 percent of GDP, or 904.7 million euros, for defense spending. The push for increased defense budgets is intensifying, particularly within NATO and the EU. (May 8)
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