Spend ‘better’ rather than ‘more’

Emphasizing national budget constraints, European initiatives for deeper
defence integration pushed by France and Germany focus on better use of
resources, interoperability and reduction of duplicity in military expenditures. But
expected effciency gains will not free European governments from the necessity
of increasing spending on R&D and modern military equipment.

Mainstream parties agree on international security framework, not on the
details. Mirroring the German populace, most mainstream German political
parties broadly agree in their commitment to NATO membership and European
defence integration. There seems to be a consensus that a more holistic
security framework is required, taking into account increasing interconnections
between foreign, defence and development policy and even between foreign
and domestic policy.

Both sides stress the importance of strengthening German
development aid towards the 0.7% of GNI OECD target. But while the centre-
right parties pledge themselves to the 2% NATO objective, the centre-left reject
the implied increase in military expenses.