Another point discussed was the defense budget. NATO puts pressure on its member states to devote 2% of their GDP (Gross Domestic Product) to their defense budget. Belgium is not there yet and it will still take time. “When I took over this department two and a half years ago, I discovered a department that had suffered from budget cuts for decades. We were barely at 1% of GDP“, specifies Ludivine Dedonder who explains that she worked on the reconstruction of this department. “We have planned a plan with a horizon of 1.54% by 2030 and then 2% in 2035“, she continues.
“We are managers of public funds too“, reacts the minister. “We must invest in dual capabilities“, she explains, that is to say, “which allow us both to be available to ensure security and to deploy abroad, but also to support our population in the event of a crisis“, she continues.
This plan is being implemented,”to provide all necessary assistance to the nation“, believes Ludivine Dedonder. “I invested to have a logistics hub, I invested to be able to have these dual capabilities, I also invested in personnel who can be deployed to help the nation“According to this plan, in 2030, Defense should be at least 29,100 strong, including 3,800 civilians.”We had planned to recruit 2,500 soldiers a year, several hundred civilians and several hundred reservist positions.“, explains the minister. 8000 candidates applied the first year, more than 6000 the second and we are in the third wave of recruitment. “It is reassuring that there are young people who want to serve the population and to ensure security”, underlines the minister, specifying that it is not the salary that attracts them. “A young soldier at the end of his training will have 1990 euros net. A soldier who enters as an officer at the Royal Military School will have, after three years, as a bachelor more than 2600 euros net, but that should not be the objective when one enters the army.“, explains the minister.
Ludivine Dedonder confirms that the return of compulsory military service is not on the agenda. On the other hand, a collective utility service, on a voluntary basis, will be set up. “It will be aimed at any young person, job seeker, or any young person who benefits from an integration income”, explains the minister. On the program, training as a civilian within the Defense, training with partner companies to then work within the Defense or in these companies.