Bulgaria's Military 'to Demand' BGN 200 M Budget Hike for 2015

The Defense Ministry will push for a higher military spending to be allocated in 2015, media reports suggest.

Deficits impeding the army to cover even some of its most essential needs are behind the expected move, with at least BGN 1.2 B needed to ensure that money for additional training and armament is available, daily Pressa hints, citing ts own sources.

About BGN 1 B have been set aside for the military this year, with most of the money spent on wages, insurance and maintenance of the Armed Forces.

The Ministry of Defense has refused to confirm or edny the report, but interim Deputy Defense Minister Desislava Yosifova voiced last week her "hope" the military budget would go up in 2015 so that a higher sum could be earmarked for what she called "capital expenditures".

Under plans put forward by the caretaker government (and earlier declared by President Rosen Plevneliev), the military's money should increase by BGN 130 M every year until 2020 in order to modernize both the Bulgarian Land Forces and the Bulgarian Navy, but also to upgrade the air force's capabilities through new fighters.

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