Vincent van Peteghem (CD&V) about investments in Defense: « will cost 17.2 billion euros over four years »
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Minister of Budget Vincent van Peteghem (CD&V) says that Belgium will need 17.2 billion euros over the next four years to invest 2 percent of GDP in Defense, as NATO asks. He said that in the VTM News on Sunday. Van Peteghem has a plan ready to free up that money, but warns that it cannot be a matter of just making debts.
« We will have to compensate for those costs in one way or another, » he says. « By selling government participations, saving, contributing to the frozen assets of Euroclear and a small contribution from the regions. »
If you don't do that, the national debt will only grow. And that national debt is already 105 percent of GDP. For Van Peteghem, it may not be the intention to remove the compensations from social security. « A false contradiction between safety and prosperity, » he calls it.
The defense voucher that his colleague from Defense Theo Francken (N -VA) suggested – a state voucher for national defense – is also one of the options, but Van Peteghem warns that it is not a wonder solution. “A government voucher is good for financing, but not for the compensation of the costs incurred. The government will have to repay that money at some point. You cannot put the raised money in the Ministry of Defense and repay when it has to be repaid. ”
Read too. Theo Francken Na Bengen Week for Belgian and European Defense: « Defense Bons may be issued »
PvdA against more expenses
Vincent van Peteghem's statements are just coming After Jos D'Haese indicated in the Sunday that if it depends on PvdA, the budget of Defense should not rise.
“I wonder what that scare is good for. Is there really someone who thinks Putin will be on the Brussels market the day after tomorrow, « D'Haese wonders. Those 'Bangmakers', according to the Uitd-Link politician, include Minister of Defense Theo Francken (N-VA) and the chairman of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.
« We fit for a weapon race, » it says. An increase in the defense budget will therefore not support his party. « Four billion extra by June, isn't that torn off the pot? » He says. “We already spend eight billion in Belgium on the army. That's enough. » D'Haese argues for more diplomacy.
