President Iohannis, parliamentary parties sign political pact on increased budget for defence

President Klaus Iohannis and the representatives of parliamentary parties have signed on Tuesday the national political agreement on increasing the financing of defence.

Photo credit: (c) ALEX MICSIK/AGERPRES FLOW

The following signed next to the President: Prime Minister Victor Ponta, as Social Democrat Party (PSD) Chair; Alina Gorghiu, Co-Chair of the National Liberal Party (PNL); Catalin Predoiu, Prime Vice Chair of PNL; Gabriel Oprea, Chair of the National Union for Romania's Progress (UNPR); Daniel Constantin, Chair of the Conservative Party (PC); Hunor Kelemen, Chair of the Hungarian Democrat Union of Romania (UDMR); Simona Man, Chair of the People's Party Dan Diaconescu (PPDD). The leader of the parliamentary group of ethnic minorities, Varujan Pambuccian, was not present.

The ceremony at the presidential Cotroceni Palace began with the rendition of the national anthem. Defence Minister Mircea Dusa and several presidential advisors attended.

President Iohannis held consultations on this agreement on Monday with the representatives of PSD, PNL, UNPR, PC, UDMR, of the parliamentary group of ethnic minorities, other than the Hungarian (which is represented by UDMR), and of PPDD.

After the consultations, he announced all the parliamentary parties and forces agreed to earmark 2 percent of the GDP for the defence budget, starting from 2017.

All the signatories committed to follow in all their future actions on the national defence four goals, namely: increasing the financing of defence, so that it reaches 2 percent of the GDP in the 2017 national budget; preserving this level for the following ten years, until 2027, and increasing it if the resources allow it, based on the country's security needs and obligations;...