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Politicians warn against more defence cuts

Published: 26 Jan 13 16:46 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/politics/20130126-47577.html

Government politicians have expressed concerns about reports that Germany's Defence Ministry could have to shoulder the biggest burden in upcoming budget cuts.

Various members of Germany's governing centre-right coalition of Christian Democrats and Free Democrats (CDU-FDP) reacted against a report in the Süddeutsche Zeitung newspaper on Friday that the country's defence budget would have to be cut by €2 billion for the 2014 budget, which is currently being negotiated.

"I consider the cuts on the order of €2 billion in the defence budget as hardly possible," FDP defence spokeswoman Elke Hoff. "The budget is already very tight."

"If a future government agrees to offer support for further international missions, like the recent one in Mali, then it's clear that such operations cost money that will come out of the defence budget," she added.

Norbert Barthle, chief budget expert for the CDU, said, "I've got no time for overhasty detail-debates." At the moment it was just about getting the cornerstones of next year's budget, he added.

It was reported earlier this week that Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble would be looking to save €6 billion in the 2014 budget, and that all the ministries would have to make sacrifices.

The various ministries are due to meet on January 31st to present their cut suggestions. The German government also revealed this week that it had plans to buy armed Predator drones.

The Local/DPA/bk

What do you think? Leave your comment below.


Your comments about this article:

18:38 January 26, 2013 by Bigfoot76
Who needs a Military anyways right?
21:11 January 26, 2013 by GustavSwe
I don't think you can really say that , because you don't know what will happen tomorrow in the world or in Europe. Still have a military is one of the highest priorities. Especially when the U.S forces cuts down their presence in Europe and focus in the pacific instead.
01:14 January 27, 2013 by Bigfoot76
It was sarcasm. Of course Germany needs a military particularly if GB leaves the EU. They may still come to our aide as an ally if we needed them but they have less interest in helping if they are not in the Union. Better to not have to rely on someone else to save you.
07:56 January 27, 2013 by MattyB
Well now that Europe's REAL military is cutting down its presence, I imagine this will become a pretty big concern.
15:32 January 27, 2013 by raandy
The German mind set is that all conflicts can be solved with dialogue and discussion because all parties are linked by economic need.The defending of liberal democratic principles by using military force is not part of their rational , they seem to forget that there are those out there that do not play by the rules.

This attitude is only possible because the US provides them with a security shield since the 2nd WW. They have no real foreign policy ,they believe because they have brought integration to Europe they do not need one.

Economically Germany is strong politically they are a midget compared to France and England with nothing but a carrot to offer those that would destroy democratic capitalism.
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