Pavel accepted Fiala at the Castle. We need to increase defense spending, agreed

“We agree on the necessary increase in defense spending. I am convinced that our goal must be at least three percent of gross domestic product (GDP) over the next few years, ”Fiala said.

On Tuesday, the Prime Minister said that it is realistic to increase defense spending by 0.2 percent of GDP per year, reaching three percent of GDP is a matter of several years. « I consider it a necessary investment in our security, but also the opportunity to strengthen the growth of the Czech economy, » he added on Thursday.

NATO leaders committed themselves to the Wales Summit in September 2014 for defense expenses of at least two percent of GDP. According to official NATO estimates, two and more percent of GDP released 23 Member States out of 32, according to the Ministry of Defense in 2024 for the first time, according to NATO official estimates.

“On the occasion of a regular and planned meeting, they spoke of the necessary increase in the country's defenses or the current international situation with regard to the war in Ukraine. The topic was also the budgetary determination of taxes, ”wrote the office of the President of the Republic for Thursday.

Taxation

The fact that he wants to negotiate with Fiala with the IO budget determination of taxes (Rud) was announced on Wednesday during a visit to the South Moravian Region. According to the head of state, the Chamber of Deputies should take advantage of the opportunity where most regions agreed on the form of taxation of taxes, and accept the amendment to Rud.

According to the president, a 100 % match cannot be expected in a situation where money is redistributed and not all regions get more money.

Pavel and Fiala met last week on Tuesday, when the castle was discussing the development of war in Ukraine, salaries of constitutional officials, security and army. Before Thursday's meeting Fiala said he wanted to talk mainly about the international and security situation. After the afternoon, he summarized that Pavel had discussed domestic political issues, current international situation and security challenges.