(Feb. 2) – “The current economic crisis requieres a review of the military budget. The italian government, as other European Countries, has planned substantial cuts for the next three years in the defense sector, rebuilding the whole military balance to make a more efficient use of it”. So says the Director of the International Affair Institute(IAI) Ettore Greco. About the missions abroad: “Italy has traditionally had a lower military budget than other countries. It has been reorganized, in quality, due to a staff dedicated percentage raised from 56% to actual 70%: the operating costs are seriously lowered and it has influenced the efficiency. For the moment, the government has mostly cut the investment for the armament system in the Stability Law, and now, as announced by the Defence Minister, is reconsidering the cost of the personnel. “I don’t think there is a role-model,” precises Greco, also author of several pubblications about foreing EU politics, transatlantic relations and the Balcans. “Each Country has different commitments, traditions and international relationships. It is important to remark that in this spending we have to consider a budget to substain our presence in foreign mission and to respect our involvement with all different international organizations”. “Our military presence in foreign Countries is very important in a political way but not in an economical one,” concludes Greco, “altough sometimes it can help to estabilish relations with Countries where our troops operate, as in Libia. The government has announced our military presence for 2012 in a ‘limited’ way, as assistance, support, organization and to help building a Libic military security force” to “preserve the position Italy had before the crisis”. (red)
