Defence Budget: François Hollande has announced an additional budget of 3.8 billion euros by 2019
Francois Hollande has announced that the defence budget for the Ministry of Defence is to be maintained at 31.4 billion euros in 2015 and that 7,000 military personnel are to be maintained for the ongoing operation ‘Senitel’.
“This is a major effort, it is even a considerable effort”
Francois Hollande also announced a major increase in military spending for military planning over 2015 – 2019. The increase will be around 3.8 billion euros over four years. “This is a major effort, it is even a considerable effort,” said President Hollande at the press conference after his meeting with the ministry of Defence.
The President has had to mediate between the Ministry of Defence, which demanded an increase of its defence budget in order to maintain and plan for the future, and Bercy, which wanted to lower its budget in real terms. “If the French are to have confidence in the future, then they need to feel safe,” said Francois Hollande to justify the increase.
